Skip to content
  • Start free trial

Origins of the Harvey surname

A collage of historical images including two family portraits and a postcard of people boarding a ship

What does the name Harvey mean?

Harvey is a surname thought to originate in England. It is derived from the Old French 'Herve' (battle-worthy), and would be a patronymic name given to those who were the son or descendant of those with this given name. The Harvey surname has been found in records as early as the 1200s, and is thought to have Anglo-Norman roots.

Alternative variations of the name Harvey

Harvey, Harvie, Harveye, Hervie, Hervey

“

I’ve managed to trace back to the mid-1500s! I can’t believe it! Utterly engrossing and I have uncovered some quite moving and heartbreaking stories attached to various ancestors. You don’t need any qualifications to start - just time patience, and some information.

SS
Stuart
TrustPilot review
1 of 3

Start your family tree

Trace your family back in time. Make new discoveries and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Harveys.

Sign up to get started

Delve deeper into the Harvey family's history

Where do most Harveys live?

In 1921, most Harveys lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Harveys

How common is your surname?

97th most common surname in the UK

We have 319,000 records for the Harvey surname. The oldest one dates back to 1220.

Who were Harveys most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Williamses

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Harveys.

What are the most common Harvey first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Harvey family members

Common jobs for Harveys

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Harveys in 1921
Dressmaker

1,425

Domestic Servant

849

Laundress

774

General Servant Domestic

736

Living On Own Means

603

Common Male occupations for Harveys in 1921
Agricultural Labourer

1,460

General Labourer

1,196

Coal Miner

1,091

Farmer

1,009

Carpenter

892

An image of a census transcript and a picture of a dairy farmer holding two milk jugs

Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

We found over 280,000 family trees with the Harvey surname

Trace your family back in time and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Harveys.

Search for a relative in our family trees

Share your discoveries

Find out more about your family in our records

or try an advanced search

Start your family history journey

Start free trial

Start free trial