Devereux, Devericks, and Devereaux Genealogy

General Info Crest DNA Study Normandy & Origins Will. Devereux (1037-1110) Treasurers of Normandy Brecon & Bredwardine Walt. Devereux (1070-1130) Walt. Devereux (1105-1165) Elnodestune & Putley John Devereux (1137-1187) Lyonshall & Bodenham Frome Whitechurch Staunton Wexford, Ire. Early Images 1st Earl of Essex 1st Earl Images 2nd Earl of Essex Illegitimate Son of 2nd Earl 2nd Earl Images 3rd Earl of Essex 3rd Earl Images Moses d'Evreux Maryland 1 Maryland 2 Maryland 3 Devericks 1 Devericks 2a Devericks 2b Devericks 2 Images Devericks 3a Devericks 3b Devericks 3 Images Devericks Wills Connecticut Conn Images1 Conn Images2 Conn Images3 Conn Images4 Massachusetts Barbados Random Photos References

A Brief History of the Devereux Name and Family

     The family name Devereux (pronounced Deverooks) arose in Normandy, France around 980 AD. It originally was a contraction of the French "de Evreux" which became D'Evreux, and translates to "of Evreux." Evreux is a city located in the Eure, a region of Normandy, and on the road to Paris. The name was first applied to Robert, 2nd son of Richard the Fearless (4th Duke of Normandy). Robert was created the Archbishop of Rouen at a young age, which required his parents to officially marry to establish his legitimacy.  Robert then gained the additional title of Comte (Earl) of Evreux. His descendants would bear the surname of D'Evreux which eventually evolved to Devereux and its later variations.

     The Devereux family passed to England with the Norman conquest.  The elder line retained the title of Earl of Evreux for the next 100 years until the male line failed. The younger line settled on the Welsh border where its descendants remain to this day.

     The Welsh border Devereux's settled at Lyonshall and Bodenham, and over the years gave rise to the Viscounts of Hereford, Earls of Essex, Barons Devereux of Whitechurch Maund, Baronets of Castle Bromwich, and others. This line is also thought to have given rise to the Devereux family of Ireland around 1200 as represented by the Lords of Balmagir in Wexford County and others.

     When the Devereux family was evicted from Normandy, their lands were given to a relative of the French king that gave rise to a second Devereaux family centered upon France. 

     A Jewish family also bore the name of Devereux and settled on the Welsh borders at the same time as the conquest. Their primary ancestor was a Jewish scholar, Moses D'Evreux.

The Devereux Family in America

Arrival of the Devereux surname in colonial America originally was centered on regional immigration events.  

1. John Devereux arriving with the Winthrop Fleet in 1635 and giving rise to the Massachusetts and its related branches.  

2. Jonathan Devereaux arriving in Connecticut about 1715 and giving rise to a branch that spread out through New York and the Northwest Territories. 

3. John Devericks arriving at Jamestown around 1650 and giving rise to a branch spreading through Maryland, Virginia, and Missouri.

4. Charles Devereaux came to Southern Virginia in 1763 and giving rise to a branch in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Texas.

This was later complicated as the country grew and people moved about, but the greatest confusion came with a later influx of Irish Devereaux's that settled across all boundaries, and several Eastern European families that anglicized their name to Devereux,