>To: Greg Reeves<greg@rapidnet.com> (Greg Reeves) >From: REEVES@atlanta.com (Bob Reeves) >Subject: Re: Etymology of the REEVES surname >Date: Tue, 31 Dec 1996 08:40:58 LOCAL > >This is my first post to the list, so if the address isn't correct, please >forward to the general list address and inform me of the proper id. >The early work which advances this premise (and draws on Hutchins "History of >Dorsort" as the primary reference) is James Rives Childs "Reliques of the >Ryves," a huge volume published in the 1930's. JRC was a highly educated >academic and diplomat who did extensive research into the Ryves roots in >England. He also suggests the French origin, but is less specific than your >Waddle/Hoke reference. > >Incidently, paperback reprints are available. I ordered one through Blairs >Book Service at www.genealogy.com. > >Apparently the "Y" in RYVES is pronounced as an "EE" and the "S" is silent as >pronounced in French. > >>1. was RYVES the old English spelling for what today might be spelled >>REEVE/REEVES? > >Yes. > >>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? > >Childs remarks on cities/geographic entities in Frances named Rives. > >>3. Why, over time, would RYVES evolve first into RIVES (and other variates) >>and only eventually into REEVE and REEVES? > >In the periods in question, as emigration occurred and education levels >varied, the name was spoken far more often than written. As a result, RYVES, >RIVES, REIVES, REVES, REAVES, and REEVES would sound the same and the written >variants resulted over time. With the silent "S", RIVE, REEVE, and REAVE would >result. >I highly recommend that you find a copy of "Reliques" by James Rives >Childs...it is the best reference to the English Ryves that I have found. >P.S. Coach Dan Reeves is from Americus, Georgia. He is currently being courted >by the Atlanta Falcons. ------------------------------