This locational surname of several spellings, is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and originates from a hamlet in Huntingdonshire, England. Recorded as "Covintune" in the Domesday Book of 1086, and as "Couyngton" in the 1260 Assize Court Rolls, the component elements of the placename are the Olde English pre 7th Century personal name "Cofa", with "ing", people of, and "tun", enclosure, settlement; hence, "settlement of Cofa's people". This personal name also forms the first element of such places as Coveney in Cambridgeshire, and Coventry in Warwickshire.
Locational surnames, such as this, were originally given to local landowners, and the lord of the manor, and especially as a means of identification to those who left their places of origin to settle elsewhere. Examples of authentic church recordings include on November 12th 1582, Margery Coventon and John Spratbye who were married at Christ Church, Greyfriars, Newgate, London, and on March 19th 1598, Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Coventon, was christened at Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire. On April 14th 1691 Frances Covington married Edward Butchare at St James church, Dukes Place, London, whilst on November 13th 1699, George Covendon married Mary Frances at St Giles Cripplegate, London. The Coat of arms associated with the family surname has the blazon of a blue field charged with a silver fretty, a saltire parted of the last, between four gold estoiles. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Annes Coveington, which was dated August 30th 1565, christened at St. Paul's, Bedford, Bedfordshire, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
Research into the possible origins of covendon leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname covendon is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation.
There is a considerable probability that covendon has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where covendon is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname covendon provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.
The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named covendon are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname covendon, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of covendon developed.
It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of covendon could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about covendon and send it to us, we will update it on this website.
We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname covendon, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname covendon were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname covendon who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
The bibliography collects information related to the surname covendon, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of covendon are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of covendon, and at the same time, of surnames in general.