Calvert

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A surname of English origin that may refer to notable historical figures or families
2. A proper noun that can denote a place name or geographical location, particularly in the United States
3. A family name associated with early Maryland colonization and various notable individuals in American history

Etymology: Calvert is a surname and place name, and its roots are about as plain as English gets. It descends from Middle English "calfhirde," a compound of "calf" and "herd," meaning someone who tends a herd of calves. The surname was formed from that occupational sense, the way many English family names record a job someone once did. The word moved from a surname to place names mostly through the people who bore it. Because the name was carried by families who settled new territory, it was attached to towns, counties and landmarks, most famously in the American colonies. Its use as a place name therefore follows the surname rather than any separate meaning of its own.