Ivey
A surname that likely began as a pet-form patronymic meaning “son of Ive,” with later overlap with the word for ivy.
The #1,546 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 13,272 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Bardsley treats Ivey as a baptismal surname meaning “the son of Ive,” formed from a pet-name such as Ive, Ivte, or Ivie. The personal name Ive is itself generally connected with the medieval name Ivo, ultimately from Old French and earlier Germanic elements associated with the yew tree, though later English surname usage could also be influenced by the common word ivy. In short, Ivey is best understood as a nickname-patronymic built from a short form of a given name.
History
The name is well attested in English records, and Bardsley notes spellings such as Ivey, Ivle, and Ivy. Later writers also treated Ivey as an English pronunciation or variant connected with Ivet/Ivetts and Ivy, showing that the forms often overlapped in practice. In modern English-speaking countries, Ivey has continued as a relatively uncommon surname and can also appear as a given name.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
19th-century surname collectors grouped Ivey with other names that could be confused with plant names, because the spelling overlaps with ivy, even when the family name actually came from a personal name.
From the historical record
“Ivetts; v. Ivatt. Ivey, Ivi«, Ivy. — Bapt. 'the son of Ive,' from the pet-form Ivte or Ivey; cf. Charley and Charlie. V. Ive. 'SOS- Married— Mafke Ivr and Hary”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instances