This surname is derived from an occupation. 'the calf herd,' a keeper of calves. A familiar Yorkshire surname; compare Oxnard, Coward, Stoddart, Shepherd; v. Herd.

Henry Calvehird, Writs of Parliament.

John le Calvehird. Rolls of Parliament.

Warin le Calvehird, Yorkshire: Kirkby's Inquest (Surtees Society).

Johanna Calfbird, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Johannes Calvehyrd, 1379: ibid.

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Colbert,' found as a personal name in Domesday, Devon; compare Coleswain, Colegrim, Colbran.

Perhaps from the occupation of 'calf herd,' a keeper of calves. An old name in Yorkshire, Calvehird in reign of Edward 11 (Cuppy). Johannes Calfhyrd witnessed confirmation of Snadoun to the Abbey of Dryburgh, c. 1350 (Dryburgh, 232). William Calwart, notary public in Arnbroath, 1467, and another William Cauart in the regality of Arnbroath is mentioned, 1535 (RAA., II, 174,828). John Calward and Thomas Calwart had sasine of lands in Fife, 1563 (ER., XIX, p. 512,514). Robert Calvart or Cawart was rescued from justice, 1567 (RPC., I, p. 577). John Calwart was retoured heir of John Calwart, portioner of Kingisbarnis his father, 1601 (Retours, Fife, 105), and in 1611 another John Calvart was retoured heir of Thomas Calvart his father (ibid., 219). John Cailvairt was burgess of Anstruther, 1628 (ibid., 1404), and Lancelot Cavart appears in Birnok, parish of Lamington, 1669 (Lanark CR.).

This name is well known in south Munster and the prominence of Cornelius Colbert (18 -1916), one of the signatories of the Irish declaration of the Irish Republic, who was executed by the British after the 1916 Rising, has familiarized it widely in Ireland. Although one of the most famous characters in French history bore this name it came to Ireland from England. According to Ewen it occurs in Domesday Book (1066) as Colbeorht, a combination of Old-English words meaning calm and bright; Reaney says it is Colbert in Domesday Book giving it an Old-German origin. In Ireland it appears at least as early as 1417when one Thomas Colbert was involved in a trespass case at Tipperary. Griffith's Valuation found Colberts very numerous in Co. Waterford in 1850, no less than 55 householders of the name being recorded there.

* For the use of Stone for Mulclohy see Irish Families, p. 232.

(Teutonic) either the common A.-Sax Ceólbe(o)rht [Old English ceól, a ship + be(o)rht bright] or its Frankish (Franco-Teut.) cognate.

This name, of Old-German origin, is in Munster since 1417. SIF 36

(English) Descendant of Colbert (cool, bright).

The baronet's family trace to a Mr. C., who was minister of Andover, co. Hants, in the XVI. cent., and probably of French extraction.

Calvert is a characteristic Yorkshire name, and is at present best represented in the Richmond district, but still survives in York. The Calverts, of Danby Wiske, were an old North Riding family. Sir George Calvert, the first lord of Baltimore and the first planter in Maryland, was from this stock (W. R.). Sheriffs of the city of York in the reigns of James I. and Charles I. bore this name; and as far back as the time of Edward II., Henry Calvehird was a bailiff of this city, whilst Henry Calvert, probably the same person, represented York in the parliament of that reign (D.). Calvert House is a North Riding hamlet.