Surname TOVERY / TOVREY - Meaning and Origin
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TOVERY / TOVREY: What does the surname TOVERY / TOVREY mean?
The last name Tovery/Tovrey is an English and/or Irish surname originating from the Middle Ages. The root word is the Old English word "tou", which means "toe", indicating a person who was heavily or abnormally endowed with toes.
In its early days, the name was used as a sobriquet for people who had some sort of deformity, with the most common being having extra toes. Over time, this physical trait became less common and, instead, people began to associate the name with having a keen sense of balance and agility.
In Ireland, the surname Tovrey was a widespread given name in the Middle Ages and many early Irish families are seen using it in the contemporary records. In terms of its geographical spread, the name Tovery/Tovrey was not found outside of Britain and Ireland, aside perhaps from the occasional family that migrated overseas.
Throughout the centuries, the last name Tovery/Tovrey remains a source of both fascination and mystery. Today, few are aware of the true meaning behind this name or why it was chosen as a surname so long ago. Even the exact etymology of the term remains unknown. However, this name continues to carry a unique meaning and history all its own, regardless of its origin.
Order DNA origin analysisTOVERY / TOVREY: Where does the name TOVERY / TOVREY come from?
The last name TOVERY / TOVREY is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, primarily in England and Wales. It is relatively rare in other parts of the world, primarily because it is an old English surname. The surname is concentrated in the South East of England and it is believed to have originated in Hampshire, Dorset or Essex. The earliest known ancestors of the name were recorded in the 12th century as de Tovery or Toverye. It is believed to have been derived from the Middle English "toverie", meaning "tower".
The name was primarily a reference to a person who lived near or worked at a tower, such as a medieval fortification or an ancient coastal beacon. It is also believed to have been used as a nickname for someone who had a rather elevated opinion of themselves.
The surname is found in records from the 12th century onward and there are still many people bearing the name across England and Wales today. It has also been found in records with various spelling variations, such as Tovary, Tovrey and Tovreye.
Over time, the spelling of the surname changed, which is why it has multiple variations today. It is still fairly uncommon outside of England, Wales and the Commonwealth countries.
Variations of the surname TOVERY / TOVREY
The surname TOVERY / TOVREY is of French and German origin. It is found in England, Belgium, Germany, Canada, the United States and Australia.
The variants of TOVERY / TOVREY are: Tofarist, Tovy, Tovrey,Tovery, Tafari, Teferi, Tovar, Technow, Teafra, Teofure, Tovarite, Tovarites, Tovera, Tovra, Toveryte and Trafari.
Spellings of the surname TOVERY / TOVREY include: Tavery, Toafery, Toafri, Tobey, Toborey, Tobury, Toface, Toffer, Toffey, Tofey, Tofery, Toffiri, Tofree, Tofi, Toffrey, Togery, Tofary, Tovary, Toverry, Tavery, Tafary and Teferi.
Surnames with the same origin as TOVERY / TOVREY are: Dovery, Davery, Dofari, Dofury, Doffiri, Duffry, Desvery, Defari, Deffer, Deffey, Duffery, Toffery, Duffry, Dofi, Doffrey and Dafary. These surnames are often derived from German, French or Dutch language and culture.
In conclusion, the surname TOVERY / TOVREY is of French and German origin, and it has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name TOVERY / TOVREY
- Harry Tovey: English former footballer
- Chris Tovey: English cricketer
- Kenneth Tovey: Canadian politician
- Marshal Tovey: British actor
- Amanda Tovey: Light artist & curator
- Keith Tovey: British environmental scientist
- Mike Tovey: British sitcom actor
- William Tovey: British Rear-Admiral
- Richard Tovy: Canadian academic
- Donald Tovrey: Norwegian politician
- Malea Tovrey: American artist
- Jared Tovrey: American cinematographer
- Wade Tovrey: American actor
- Tess Tovrey: British novelist