This unusual and interesting name is a confusing mix of pre Anglo-Saxon and later 11th century Norman-French. It was also probably given 'new blood' in the 17th century through Dutch or French Huguenot immigration from the continent, although this is not definately proven. The surname is occupational, and denotes a manufacturer or merchant of wooden (and later metal) sieves. The derivation being from the Old English pre 7th Century word "sifa", and the later French 'sieve'. There are a surprising number of variants of the surname in use today, which itself indicates the medieval importance of the occupation. These include Seviour, Sevior, Sevier, Sebyer, Seeviour, Siveyer, Sivier and Sivyer. Recordings of the surname taken from church records include Margrett Sevvyer, who married George Godfrey at St Benets, Pauls Wharf, London, on February 2nd 1625 and Elizabeth Sevier, daughter of Thomas Sevier, christened on the 16th November 1673, at St. Botolph without Aldgate in London. The Coat of Arms of granted in Holland has the blazon of an oak tree on a gold field, with in chief two gold spurs. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Edith Siviere, which was dated 1274, in the Hundred Rolls of Essex, during the reign of King Edward 1, known as the Hammer of the Scots, 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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