Show ContentsNavy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Navy family

The surname Navy was first found in Angus (Gaelic: Aonghas), part of the Tayside region of northeastern Scotland, and present day Council Area of Angus, formerly known as Forfar or Forfarshire, where they held a family seat in the parish of Nevay, now called Essie. The name became interchangeably Nevay and Nevoy. The first on record was Adam of Neveth who perambulated (staked) his territories between the lands of the Abbey of Arbroath and Kinblemonth in 1219. 1

The Nave, Knave and Neave variants were interestingly found just over the border in Yorkshire, England where "the Yorkshire Poll Tax (1379) has many instances to prove its purely occupative character," as in "the knave", a lad, a servant including Johannes Jakkesknave; Nicholas Gaytknave; and Thomas Wyllknave. 2

Earlier forms of the name were also found in Wiltshire: Alwin Cnave in 1210 and later, Henry le Knave in the Feet of Fines for Warwickshire in 1271. Adam le Cnave was found in the the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset in 1327 and Richard Knave in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1357. 3

Early History of the Navy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Navy research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1453, 1558, 1579, 1647, 1649, 1653, 1661 and 1683 are included under the topic Early Navy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Navy Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Nevoy, Nevay, Nave, Navay, Navy, Neve and others.

Early Notables of the Navy family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Sir David Nevoy, Lord Reidie, afterwards Lord Nevoy (died 1683), a Scottish judge who was appointed lord of session and knighted in 1661. Nevoy was promoted to the bench, 25 June 1661, and retained his office for upwards of twenty-two years. Lord Hailes mentions he had been a Professor in St. Leonard's College, St. Andrews. He "was a regent at St. Leonard's College, St. Andrews, but was deposed in...
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Navy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Navy migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Navy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Allie Navy, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1849

Australia Navy migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Navy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Martha Navy, aged 21, a domestic servant, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "Africaine" in 1836 4


The Navy Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Marte et arte
Motto Translation: By valour and skill.


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) AFRICAINE 1836. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1836Africaine.htm


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