Surname Peverell - Meaning and Origin

Peverell: What does the surname Peverell mean?

The surname Peverell is of Norman origin. It is a geographical surname that comes from the village of Peuerell in Normandy, France. The village's name is believed to have derived from the Old French phrase "pueil ville", meaning "village by the spring". The surname was likely first given to individuals living in or near this village. As the person moved, the name would help distinguish them, indicating their origin. Over time, Peuerell evolved into Peverell. The surname was first recorded in England in the 11th century after the Norman Conquest. Notably, the Peverell family was a wealthy and influential family during medieval times. In the popular Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling, the Peverell brothers are ancient and important characters who allegedly received the Deathly Hallows. Nonetheless, it is important to clarify that the usage of the name in the series is purely fictional.

Peverell: Where does the name Peverell come from?

The last name Peverell is most common today in the United Kingdom. It is especially prevalent in the southwestern counties of Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. According to genealogy records, the name dates back to the late 12th century, when the first known bearer, William Peverale, was recorded in Cornwall.

Today, Peverell is one of the fifty most common surnames in the United Kingdom. It is particularly common in Cornwall, where more than a quarter of people with the name reside. It is also relatively common in Devon and Somerset, where many of the earliest recorded Peverells have been found.

The name is thought to have evolved from a combination of the Celtic and Old English words for ‘badger’ and ‘wood’, which were used to describe a person from the area now known as Peverell. The coat of arms of the Peverell family bears the motto “Æquo Animo” which translates to mean “with an even mind”.

Peverell is a legacy name, with many people in the United Kingdom bearing the surname today. Beyond the country, however, it is less common. In the United States, for example, it only ranks in the top 10,000 of surnames.

Variations of the surname Peverell

The surname Peverell is thought to originate in Normandy in the pre-10th century. The earliest recordings of the surname appear in England in the 11th century in the form of Nicholas Pevrel. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Peverell include the following:

Pevrel, Peverel, Peverell, Peverall, Peverill, Peberell, Peberrell, Pevrill, Peverld, Pebrell, Pebral, Pebbold, Pebbord, Perell, Perels, Pewarel, Pevenall, and Pevenell.

The name Peverell was also a popular first name, and so some of the variants listed above can be adopted from Christian names such as Pebbe, Pebb, Peve, Peverelle, and Pevere.

The variations in the spelling of the surname Peverell are primarily due to its early history. During this time, English surnames were just beginning to be standardised, so many variations in spelling were common. These variations developed over time, as the name Peverell was often misspelled due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time. For example, the “v” in Pevrel would have been represented in various other ways in the Middle Ages, such as a “u”, a “β” or a “v”.

Most of the spellings of the surnames are pronounced in a similar way, although some variations exist. The most common pronunciation is “PEEV-rəl”. However, some of the variations in spelling may lead to slightly different pronunciations, such as the “PEEB ə-rəl” of Peberell, Peverill, Peberrell and Pebbold.

Famous people with the name Peverell

• Tom Peverell, a South African rugby union player
• Kendra Peverell, an Australian netball player
• Elizabeth Peverell, an English barrister of the Inner Temple
• Peter Peverell, a radio broadcaster from New Zealand
• George Peverell, a Canadian educator and school administrator
• John Peverell, a British Anglican priest
• Anthony Peverell, an Australian cricketer
• Sam Peverell, a retired English footballer
• William Peverell, a former English professional footballer
• speaker Peverell, a fictional character in the Harry Potter universe
• Frederick Peverell, a British Army officer during World War II

Other surnames

Peverel