Francis KERVIL

  General Notes:

Also please see www.kearvell.com - "Family Articles/Francis Kervil".

The oldest known grandfather of us all. But where did he come from?

The surname is not shown in any local West Sussex records prior toFrancis "appearing" in first Chidham(1687), and then Bosham(1693)where he married, firstly, Mary Wiles and, after a 5-year marriage andMary's death, Elizabeth Cupin.

Similair sounding surnames are recorded during the 16/17th centuryin:-

Sussex
names such as Karvell, Carvell and Carvill are recorded

Hampshire
particularly in South Hampshire around Romsey, Twyford, Hursley,Bishopstoke, Eling, Millbrook, Beaulieu, Fawley, Wellow and Uphamwhere Kervil/Kervill and similair can be found.

Isle of Wight
several parishes, but a search of all parish records has not revealedaFrancis

Kent
isolated entries in Canterbury

Suffolk
isolated entries in Lowestoft. 17th century herring fleets wereknownto trade from East Anglia to the South Coast

Norfolk
isolated entries. The Kervile family were well known at Wiggenhall,near Kings Lynn from the time of the Norman Conquest until the familyname died out in 1624 with the death of Henry Kervile, Knight. Thefamily had come over with William the Conqueror and been given landsfor their part in the Conquest.

Wiltshire
particularly around Downton. There are known connections betweenDownton and the Sussex Ports in connection with the timber industry.However a search of the parish records has not revealed a Francis.

Northumberland
isolated entries. There is research into Ancient Surnames thatindicates "Kervil" as a Norman surname established in the County fromthe time of the Norman Conquest. Duke William of Normandy, their liegelord, had granted them lands for their distinguished assistance at theBattle of Hastings in 1066. The research indicates that the familyoriginally came from Carvile or Charville in Normandy.

Other theories:-

Arundel Castle Sussex
was taken over by the Howard Family (from Wiggenhall area inNorfolk)in 16th century and thus gives a possible connection betweenthe two counties as staff would have transferred. However a searchthrough theestate records by the Arundel Castle Archivist has shown noevidence of the surname.

Huguenot
Kervil surname is known in Brittany and Francis "appears" on SouthCoast of England only two years after the largest exodus of Huguenotsfrom France in 1685. However a commissioned search of Huguenot Societyrecords by Michael Gandy, an historical researcher with the Society,has shown no evidence that the surname was Huguenot. The only name ofnote was Louise Renee de Keroualle (Madam Carwell), one of CharlesII'smistresses and granted naturalisation in 1673. She was later Duchessof Portsmouth.

Normandy
'Carvel' is a Norman word and relates to the wooden planking on ships.The small village of Carville is in the old Duchy of Normandy - (seeconnected entry for Northumberland above).

Flemish/Dutch
'Kervil' is an old Dutch word for the Chervil herb and, alhoughrare,has been used as a surname.

Brittany
'Ker' is a Breton word meaning a farm or small village. The surnameKervella is to be found in the Finistere area and there are a fewfamilies with the name Kervil. I am in correspondence with a MichelKervil of Vitre who is researching his name. The oldest relative hehas found, marries at the village of Plumelec in 1722.
Interestingly, I have written to a Breton pen friend for the past 40years. I stayed with his family in Rennes when I was a teenager andonone occasion we visited his grandparents at their farm - which wasnamed "Kervilor".

Sea trading
A common story amongst the family is that of a distant greatgrandfather ( usually said to be one of either two or three brothers)runninga trading boat between Brittany and the Sussex Ports from thefrench side before settling in this country. Perhaps one of thehardest theories ever to prove but, strangely, the sort of story thatis handed down from generation to generation - and just might betrue!!

Ireland
Ancient surname research indicates that many of the earliestKervils,known in the Border Country of Northern England from the timeof the Norman Conquest, moved to Ireland during the religious andpolitical conflicts of the 16/17th centuries. The name 'Kearvell' isthe modern English translation of the old Irish name "Cearbhall".However we are not looking for the modern spelling of our name intrying to find a link with Francis and 1693.

Scardyvylles
a very well known name in West Sussex with several spelling variationsgoing back several centuries and said to have links with Normanaristocracy from the time of the Norman Conquest. The family is saidto have fallen upon hard times and anglicised the name. However nolink with Francis found.

Indications:-

Whilst retaining an open mind to all theories, if I'm allowed mybesthunch (to date!!), I would have to follow two of the theories.

Either the trading boat theory from Brittany/Normandy, which mighthelp explain why Francis seems to just "appear" on the West Sussexsceneor, the South Hampshire theory where Kervil and similair are seenandthe difference in spelling of recorded surnames (e.g. Kirvel) is sosmall that it might be accounted for by the differing dialects spokenat the time. After all the clergy recorded your name as you spoke it-you most probably didn't know how it was spelled in any case.

If we are considering the two theories we might look to the names ofFrancis's children, grandchildren and great grandchildren for a clueas to his origins, as it was commonplace at the time for children tobe named after parents, grandparents and near relatives. Thechristiannames seen are Thomas, Elizabeth, Francis, Ann, Jane, John,William, Mary, Jean and George, with no recorded foreign spellings.Thus more inclined towards 'English' names than influenced by Normanor Breton French?

One of the most striking things about our unique family is that somany of us seem to have grown up without knowing other Kearvells apartfrom our immediate relations. Yet the commonest theory for ourorigins,put forward by many branches of the family, is that ofbrothers (there is evidence of a John Kervill living in and raising afamily in West Sussex around 1700) coming over from Northern Franceand settling in this country. A story that has been handed downthrough generations. Maybe that points to a combination of the twotheories above. Perhaps Francis's birth is to be found somewhere inHampshire and then in aprevious century we will find the family comingto England from Northern France. And then again..........?

As you can perhaps see, there is still quite a lot ofevidence/theoryto sift through!

1704 (1 acre) and 1711 (21/2 acres ) - evidence in the ManorialRecords of Bosham that Francis rented pasture/arable land in Bosham.
CONC Date of Import: Nov 5, 2000. Previous computer held source records
CONC lostin computer crash.
CONC Date of Import: Nov 5, 2000. Previous computer held source records
CONC lostin computer crash.
CONC Date of Import: Nov 5, 2000. Previous computer held source records
CONC lostin computer crash.

Francis married Elizabeth CUPIN on 16 Dec 1693 in Bosham West Sussex. (Elizabeth CUPIN was born on 21 Jan 1672 in Bosham West Sussex and died on 26 Apr 1707 in Bosham West Sussex.)

Francis next married Mary WILES in Feb 1687 in Chidham West Sussex. (Mary WILES died on 16 Dec 1692 in Bosham West Sussex.)