Howdy again! In addition to my recently-stimulated curiousity regarding the geographical origin of the "REEVES" surname, I'm becoming increasingly aware that our "primary" REEVES surname has several variations in its spelling, including RYVES, RIVES, REAVES, RIEVES, REVE, and REEVE. Consequently--and in an attempt to reconcile their supposed common origin--I'd like to inquire of you'all just what we (collectively) know about the etymology of our REEVES surname and its (many) variations. A few months ago, a 4th cousin, once removed, of mine named Patricia Reeves MacLean of Fresno, CA wrote: "I think the derivation of the name REEVES is fairly commonly known as an English occupational name defined variously as the reeve of Manor, the keeper of order among the Lord of the Manor's peoples, collector of rents, and other interpretations of managerial duties of a reeve, the office of which eventually devolved into the reeve of the shire, hence Shire-reeve from whence we get our term Sheriff. Parts of Canada still call this office holder a Reeve and I imagine the term is still used in parts of England, although I cannot truly vouch for England's present use but I can for some parts of Canada. Obviously the English took the term with them wherever English rule went, and no doubt to other parts of the British Isles. However the definition may vary in details, I think this is the gist of it." Looking up "reeve" in my aging Webster's New World Dictionary, it says: "[ME. refe., earlier irefe; AS. gerefa; prob. < base of refan, to call out; cf. SHERIFF], 1. In English history, a) the chief officer, under the king, of a town or district. b) the overseer of a manor; steward; bailiff. 2. in Canada, the president of a village or town council." Clearly, Reeve is an English word w/ English roots. But the Robert RYVES (c1490-1560) shared by Kim Waddle, Bessie Reeves Hoke and others was *first* (reportedly) a French Huguenot who only *after* fleeing France and emmigrating to England became "landed gentry," purchasing Ranston Castle and 1600 acres in Dorsetshire, England from Henry VIII in 1545. That seems to suggest then that Robert "acquired" his RYVES surname after arriving in England from FranceSo... 1. was RYVES the old English spelling for what today might be spelled REEVE/REEVES? 2. what was Robert RYVES's *former (French) surname?* Anyone wanna speculate on whether Robert RYVES changed his name upon arriving in England <1545 and what his former name may have been? 3. Why, over time, would RYVES evolve first into RIVES (and other variates) and only eventually into REEVE and REEVES? Can anyone shed any light on these questions specifically, or on the etymology of the REEVES surname more broadly? Greg Reeves REEVES-L Listowner greg@rapidnet.com ------------------------------