Show ContentsPavey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Pavey surname is derived from the given name Pavia, popularly known as Pavey. [1] [2] [3]

However, another source notes that name could have been "a nickname from a kind of Peach [French pavie; from the place-name]" [4]

Early Origins of the Pavey family

The surname Pavey was first found in Warwickshire where Ricardus filius Pauee was listed 1156-1185. A few years later, Gillebertus filius Pauie was found in the Pipe Rolls for Somerset in 1172 and Pavia was found in the Curia Regis Rolls for Essex in 1206. Paveya (surname only) was found in the Assize Rolls for Yorkshire in 1219 as was Ribert Paui. Later, Richard Paveye was found in the Feet of Fines for Warwickshire in 1251. [5]

"The name does not appear to have been very common in England. Walter Pavey is mentioned in 1222 in the Domesday of St. Paul's. Thomas Pavi and Alice his wife occur in Staffordshire in 1272, and N. Pawei in the Hundredorum Rolls of the same date. Henry Pavey of Chippenham, and John Pavey, each again married to an Alice, are found in Kent in the Feet of Fines for Kent in 1319. Richard Pavey was among the Esquires who were in the retinue of Thomas Earl of Arundel at Agincourt in 1415. The earliest mentioned is "Ricardo de Payee," who in 1183 witnesses Robert de Stafford's charter to Bordesley Abbey. They occur at a later date in several other counties. Two of the name, William Pavey, obt. 1725, and Mary, wife of Robert Pavey, obt. 1770, lie buried in Bruton churchyard, Somerset. A small tablet of very ancient date, suspended in the centre arch of Stapleford Church, and inscribed with the old version of the first Psalm, bears the name of William Pavie." [6]

To the north in Cumberland (Cumbria) the source, Estates and Families of Cumberland notes that Pavia was widow of Robert de Grinsdale. 'In the 12th year of King Henry III, Radulph, the son of said William de Bochardby, entered to the seignory. His sisters Alice, Pavy, and Agnes were his heirs'

Pavey Ark is a fell in the English county of Cumbria. It is the largest cliff in the Langdales.

Early History of the Pavey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pavey research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1604, 1614 and 1747 are included under the topic Early Pavey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pavey Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Pavey, Pavie, Pavy, Pavis, Pafey, Paivey, Payvey, Pavier, Payver and many more.

Early Notables of the Pavey family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • the Pavey family of Norfolk


United States Pavey migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pavey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Joseph Pavey, who settled in Georgia in 1736
Pavey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Samuel Pavey, who was naturalized in Detroit in 1872

Canada Pavey migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pavey Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • William Pavey, George Pavey, and Elijah Pavey, who were on record in census of Ontario, Canada in 1871

Australia Pavey migration to Australia +

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

Pavey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Robert Pavey, (b. 1819), aged 22, English farm labourer who was convicted in Somerset, England for 15 years for house breaking, transported aboard the "David Clarke" on 3rd June 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1842 [7]
  • Miss Jane Pavey, (b. 1799), aged 44, English cook who was convicted in Bridgwater, Somerset, England for 10 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 16th November 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [8]

Contemporary Notables of the name Pavey (post 1700) +

  • Joanne "Jo" Marie Pavey MBE (b. 1973), English track and field athlete who won the 10,000 m gold medal at the 2014 European Championships in Zürich, ten months after giving birth to her second child, to become the oldest female European champion in history
  • Bree Pavey, American actress and producer, from McHenry, Illinois, known for Gossip Boy (2011), Cold Case (2003) and Resurrection Mary (2005)
  • Tyler Graham Pavey, American producer and director, known for Five Grand (2016), The Phoenix Project (2015) and Gilt (2015)
  • Rob Pavey, American stuntman, known for his work on Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) and Ready Player One (2018)
  • James Pavey, American stuntman, known for his work on Les Misérables (2012), Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) and Ready Player One (2018)
  • Charles W. Pavey (1835-1910), American Republican politician and businessman, Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts (1889–1893) [9]
  • Max Pavey (1918-1957), American chess master and medical doctor
  • Jesse Insle Pavey (b. 1890), American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Belleair, Florida, 1926-30; Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, 1939-44 [9]
  • Frank D. Pavey, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 11th District, 1895; Member of New York State Senate 15th District, 1896-98 [9]
  • Eva G. Pavey, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 1932 [9]
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

RMS Lusitania
  • Miss Lorna Mary Pavey, Canadian 2nd Class passenger from Fort Qui Apelle, Saskatchewan, Canada going to England to join the Red Cross, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking by escaping on life boat 14 it is believed [10]


  1. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  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. Baring-Gould S., Family Names and their Story. London: Seeley, Service & Co. Limited, 1913. Print
  4. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-clarke
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 31st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  10. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


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