Harvey / Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Harvey / Family History

Harvey / Family History

The ancient origin of the name Harvey was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. Harvey is a baptismal name meaning 'army warrior'. Variants include Harvie, Hervey, Hervie, Harverson, Harveson and Haverson. This name is of Anglo-Saxon descent spreading to the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts throughout these countries. Examples of such are a Dunnyng Harvey, of Cambridge, who was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls', England, in the year 1273. A James Hervy received a tenement, in Aberdeen, Scotland, in the year 1470. A Robert filus Hervei was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls' in the year 1273. In Ireland this name is often of immigrant origin having been introduced into the Province of Ulster by settlers, especially during the seventeenth century. It is sometimes an anglicized form of the native Gaelic O'hAirmheadhaigh Sept who were located in the Southern part of County Galway in the West of the country.The Harvey family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Harvey descendants.