Surname Devore - Meaning and Origin

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L. Devore

Devore: What does the surname Devore mean?

The surname Devore is of French origin, derived from the old French term "devorer", meaning "to devour". Often surnames derived from jobs or occupations, so it can be speculated that someone with this surname might have been known for eating a lot or for their likelihood to consume or destroy. It initially depicted some sort of characteristic of an ancestor and was then passed down to subsequent generations. As with many surnames that originated from nicknames, the original bearer of the surname Devore could have been infamous for his ferocious eating habits or his destructive behavior. Over time, it evolved into a family name and became hereditary. Like most surnames, geographical relocations and local pronunciations have resulted in the emergence of different spellings such as Devor, Devoreaux, and DeVere among others.

Devore: Where does the name Devore come from?

The surname Devore originates from France. The name is derived from "d'évore", which means of Évreux, a town in Normandy. The Devore family initially belonged to this town before migrating to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066, where the historical name gradually transformed into Deveraux, Devore, and its other present variations.

Today, this surname is common in the United States, possibly due to the migration flows from Europe. Furthermore, it is somewhat common in Canada, and France, as well as the UK, although to a lesser extent. Factors such as historical migration, particularly during periods of strife such as World Wars, often lead to distribution shifts of surnames. Variations of the surname, differing by regional pronunciation and cultural modifications, can be found globally.

Variations of the surname Devore

DeVore is a surname similar to the French surname De Vere, which means "of truth". Both surnames are thought to have derived from the same roots, and the DeVore surname could have been Anglicized from the French original. There are several spelling variations for DeVore including De Vore, Devore, Deveraux, Dever, DeVeer, DeVera, DeVaughn, Deveau, and DeVoue.

These forms could have evolved in different regions or have become anglicized as families with the name moved to English-speaking countries over the centuries. In Irish, it is thought to have been adapted as Dever, Devers, and Divers.

In some cases, Devore could have transformed or been derived from the surname Devroe, since this follows a common pattern of dropping or adding letters.

Other surnames potentially related to DeVore include Everett, Everard, Evered, and other names beginning with “Ever,” though these may share only a phonetic similarity rather than a direct lineage. The plurality of spellings and their variations depends upon the phonetic interpretations by officials who recorded these names.

It's worth noting that the origins and spellings can also be unique to a family's lineage and may not apply universally to all those bearing the surname today.

Famous people with the name Devore

• Kim Devore: An American actress known for her roles in films such as "Chinatown" and television series like "Columbo".
• Johnny Devore: A former professional American baseball player who played in Major League Baseball for the New York Giants.
• Daniel Devore: Also a former professional American baseball player who played for the Kansas City Royals.
• Adam DeVore: An American actor best known for his roles in films like "Weird Science" and "Time Stalkers".
• Gracie DeVore: An American actress known for her roles in movies such as "Boston Blackie's Rendezvous".
• Nicholas Devore: An American astrologer, author and lecturer who published several books on astrology.
• Edward Devore: A recipient of the Medal of Honor, America's highest military award for his service in the Vietnam War.
• Bruce Devore: A former member of the Michigan House of Representatives.
• Barry Devorzon: An American singer, songwriter and record producer best known for composing soundtracks for movies and TV series, including "The Warriors" and "Nadia's Theme".
• Patricia Devore: An American film and TV actress known for her roles in "Stay Away, Joe" and "Psych-Out". Note that some names might be spelled as 'DeVore' or 'Devorzon', reflecting different cultural or personal preferences.

Other surnames

Devor