Harvey Surname Meaning and Origin

Re enactment, Medieval Knights, shields, swords

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From the Breton first name Haerviu or Aeruiu, derived from the elements haer meaning "battle or carnage" and viu, meaning "worthy." In general, it was used to refer to a soldier or someone who was "battle worthy."

It's also possible that the Harvey surname derives from the Old German personal name Herewig, from the elements hari "army" and wig "war."

Surname Origin: English, Scottish, Irish

Alternate Surname Spellings: HARVIE, HARVE

Genealogy Resources for the Surname HARVEY

Common Surname Search Tips
Get valuable tips and tricks for researching your HARVEY ancestors online.

HARVEY Family Genealogy Forum
This free message board is focused on descendants of Harvey ancestors around the world. Find records, queries, and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Harvey surname. (Must create a free account to access)

HARVEY Surname Mailing List
This free mailing list for researchers of the Harvey surname and its variations includes subscription details and searchable archives of past messages.

References

  • Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967.
  • Dorward, David. Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998.
  • Fucilla, Joseph. Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003.
  • Hanks, Patrick, and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989.
  • Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003.
  • Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997.
  • Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.
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Powell, Kimberly. "Harvey Surname Meaning and Origin." ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/harvey-name-meaning-and-origin-1422525. Powell, Kimberly. (2020, August 27). Harvey Surname Meaning and Origin. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/harvey-name-meaning-and-origin-1422525 Powell, Kimberly. "Harvey Surname Meaning and Origin." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/harvey-name-meaning-and-origin-1422525 (accessed March 28, 2024).