This is a name which can be either job descriptive or locational. It derives either from the Olde English "wefan" which means "to weave", or it is again Olde English from "wefere", a winding stream, and denotes one who dwelt at such a place. It is often difficult to give names with such antiquity precise origins, the very nature of the need to "weave" and yet the relatively common topographical situation of a "winding stream" adds to the problem. Indeed it is also possible that the name could be a diminutive form, "wefere", plus "kin", as in Moses Weavein, who married Hannah Milton at Ickenham, Middlesex, on October 29th 1790. The name recordings include the following examples: Bartholomew Wiving (as spelt), who was christened at St. Bride's Church, Fleet Street, London, on October 1st 1644. On November 2nd 1800, Jane Weaving married John Hancock at All Souls Church, St. Marylebone, whilst on May 31st 1857, Ann Weavings was recorded at St. Luke's Church, Westminster. This is apparently the first recording of a plural form, which would normally suggest a patronymic "son of", but here, being so late in date, may be dialectal. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Joseph Weaving, which was dated April 19th 1685, marriage to Elizabeth Wapple at St. Mary-le-Bone Church, London, during the reign of King James 11, known as "The Last Catholic Monarch", 1685 - 1689. 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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