Avery is an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

surname that arrived in England after the

Norman Conquest The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Norman, Breton, Flemish, and French troops, all led by the Duke of Normandy, later styled William the Conque ...

, derived from the French surname Evreux from the county Evreux in

Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...

. The name came from the

Galician-Portuguese Galician-Portuguese ( gl, galego-portugués or ', pt, galego-português or ), also known as Old Portuguese or as Medieval Galician when referring to the history of each modern language, was a West Iberian languages, West Iberian Romance languag ...

name Abreu. It can also be found in the northern

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...

region of

Navarra Navarre (; es, Navarra ; eu, Nafarroa ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre ( es, Comunidad Foral de Navarra, links=no ; eu, Nafarroako Foru Komunitatea, links=no ), is a foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, ...

, where the House of Évreux was a ruling royal house from 1328 to 1441. At the time, the name's frequency was highest in

Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...

(5.9 times the British average), followed by

Sussex Sussex (), from the Old English (), is a historic county in South East England that was formerly an independent medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom. It is bounded to the west by Hampshire, north by Surrey, northeast by Kent, south by the English ...

Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire (), abbreviated Bucks, is a ceremonial county in South East England that borders Greater London to the south-east, Berkshire to the south, Oxfordshire to the west, Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-ea ...

Rutland Rutland () is a ceremonial county and unitary authority in the East Midlands, England. The county is bounded to the west and north by Leicestershire, to the northeast by Lincolnshire and the southeast by Northamptonshire. Its greatest len ...

Worcestershire Worcestershire ( , ; written abbreviation: Worcs) is a county in the West Midlands of England. The area that is now Worcestershire was absorbed into the unified Kingdom of England in 927, at which time it was constituted as a county (see His ...

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the north west of South East England. It is a mainly rural county, with its largest settlement being the city of Oxford. The county is a centre of research and development, primarily ...

Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...

Warwickshire Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, and the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Avon an ...

Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...

and

Somerset ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lord_ ...

. __TOC__ Notable people with the surname include:

Activism

* Byllye Avery, American health care activist *

Greg Avery Greg Avery is a British animal rights activist. His latest involvement is with Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC), an international campaign to force the closure of Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), an animal testing company based in the UK a ...

, British animal rights activist *

Rachel Foster Avery Rachel Foster Avery (December 30, 1858 – October 26, 1919) was active in the American women's suffrage movement during the late 19th century, working closely with Susan B. Anthony and other movement leaders. She rose to be corresponding secr ...

, 19th century American suffragist * Rosa Miller Avery (1830–1894), American abolitionist, political reformer, suffragist, writer; mother-in-law of Rachel Foster Avery

Law and politics

* Bill Avery (born 1940), Nebraska politician and professor * Brian Avery (activist), former volunteer for the International Solidarity Movement *

Carlos Avery Carlos Avery (1868–1930), was an American newspaper publisher and politician in the state of Minnesota. Avery is best remembered as a longtime chief of the Minnesota Game and Fish Commission and was named the first Commissioner of the Game a ...

(1868–1930), Minnesota newspaper publisher and politician *

Ephraim Kingsbury Avery Ephraim Kingsbury Avery (December 18, 1799 – October 23, 1869) was a Methodist minister who was among the first clergymen tried for murder in the United States. Avery is often cited as "the first", although it is thought there is at least Ev ...

, Methodist minister accused of an 1832 murder *

Isaac E. Avery Isaac Erwin Avery (December 20, 1828 – July 3, 1863) was a planter and an officer in the Confederate States Army. He died at the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. Avery is most remembered for a poignant blood-stained note ...

, Colonel in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War *

James Avery (American colonist) James Avery (1620April 18, 1700) was an American colonial landowner, legislator, and a military commander in King Philip's War. Early life Avery was born in Cornwall, England and emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony as a child with his parents. ...

(1620–1700), Connecticut colonist, legislator, and military commander *

John Avery (politician) John Avery (February 29, 1824 – January 21, 1914) was a physician and politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He served two terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1893 to 1897. Early life and education Avery was born in ...

, physician and politician from Michigan *

John Keith Avery John Keith Avery, (7 August 1927 – 19 May 2018) was the Commissioner of the New South Wales Police from 1984 to 1991. Commissioner of New South Wales Police John Keith Avery was the 17th leader of the organisation and the 10th person know ...

, former commissioner of the New South Wales police * Oscar F. Avery (1841–1924), Illinois state senator and lawyer *

Steven Avery Steven Allan Avery (born July 9, 1962) is an American convicted murderer from Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, who had previously been wrongfully convicted in 1985 of sexual assault and attempted murder. After serving eighteen years of a thirty-tw ...

, American exonerated by DNA evidence for a crime *

Waightstill Avery Waightstill Avery (10 May 1741 – 15 March 1821) was an early American lawyer and officer in the North Carolina militia during the American Revolution. He is noted for fighting a duel with future U.S. president Andrew Jackson in 1788. Famil ...

, North Carolina's first attorney general and a colonel during the American Revolutionary War *

William H. Avery (politician) William Henry Avery (August 11, 1911 – November 4, 2009) was an American Republican Party politician who served as the 37th governor of Kansas from 1965 until 1967. Life and career Born on August 11, 1911, near Wakefield, Kansas, Avery gradu ...

(1911–2009), former governor of Kansas *

William Tecumsah Avery William Tecumsah "Tom" Avery (November 11, 1819 – May 20, 1880) was an American slave owner, politician, member of the United States House of Representatives for the 10th congressional district of Tennessee, and Confederate Army officer. Biog ...

(1819–1880), former member of the United States House of Representatives

Literature

Catharine Hitchcock Tilden Avery Catharine H. T. Avery (, Tilden; December 13, 1844 - December 22, 1911) was an American author, editor, and educator of the long nineteenth century. Of Revolutionary ancestry and hailing from Michigan, she was founder and regent of the Western Rese ...

(1844–1911), American author, editor, educator *

Fiona Avery Fiona Kai Avery (born September 13, 1974) is a comic book and television writer. Avery was hired as a reference editor for the fifth season of ''Babylon 5'' and later continued in that role for the failed spin-off ''Crusade''. Avery contributed s ...

, comic book and television writer * George Avery, American professor of German Studies *

Gillian Avery Gillian Elise Avery (30 September 1926 – 31 January 2016) was a British children's novelist, and a historian of childhood education and children's literature. She won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize in 1972, for ''A Likely Lad.'' It w ...

, British children's writer and scholar * Harold Avery, British author of children's literature *

Tom Avery Thomas Avery, FRGS (born 17 December 1975) is a British explorer, author and motivational speaker. He made record-breaking journeys to the South Pole in 2002 and to the North Pole in 2005. He is one of fewer than ten people throughout history t ...

, explorer, mountaineer, author, and motivational speaker *

Valeen Tippetts Avery Valeen Tippetts Avery (December 22, 1936 – April 7, 2006) was an American biographer and historian of Western American and Latter Day Saint history. With biographer Linda King Newell, she co-authored '' Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith'', a biog ...

, American biographer and historian

Performance and music

* Brad Avery, guitarist for the rock band

Third Day Third Day was a Christian rock band formed in Marietta, Georgia during the 1990s. The band was founded by lead singer Mac Powell, guitarist Mark Lee (both of whom were the only constant members) and Billy Wilkins. Drummer David Carr was the ...

* Charles Avery, American blues and boogie-woogie pianist *

Eric Avery Eric Adam Avery (born April 25, 1965) is an American musician. He is best known as the founding bass guitarist and co-songwriter of the alternative rock band Jane's Addiction, with whom he has recorded two studio albums. He is also currently the ...

, original bass player for Jane's Addiction * Jack Avery, member of the American pop band

Why Don't We Why Don't We, shortened to WDW, are an American boy band consisting of Jonah Marais, Corbyn Besson, Daniel Seavey, Jack Avery, and Zach Herron. They were formed in 2016 and have released two studio albums and six extended plays. History 2016–2 ...

James Avery (actor) James La Rue Avery (November 27, 1945 – December 31, 2013) was an American actor. He was best known for his roles as Philip Banks in ''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'', Shredder in ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'', Judge Michael Conover on ''L. ...

(1945–2013), American actor known for playing "Uncle Phil" on ''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' *

James Avery (musician) James Avery (September 23, 1937 – March 8, 2009) was an American classical pianist and conductor. Avery was born in Hutchinson, Kansas and studied at the University of Kansas, and then at Indiana University (Bloomington) under Tibor Kozma. Fr ...

(1937–2009), American and German pianist and conductor *

Margaret Avery Margaret Avery (born April 15, 1944) is an American actress and singer. She began her career appearing on stage and later had starring roles in films including '' Cool Breeze'' (1972), ''Which Way Is Up?'' (1977), ''Scott Joplin'' (1977), and ''T ...

, American singer and actress *

Patricia Avery Patricia Avery (born Elizabeth Anderson Avery; November 12, 1902 – August 21, 1973) was an American silent film actress of the 1920s. Life Born Elizabeth Anderson Avery in Boston, Massachusetts, Avery moved to Hollywood to pursue a caree ...

(1902–1973), American silent film actress *

Phyllis Avery Phyllis Avery (November 14, 1922-May 19, 2011) was an American actress. Early life Phyllis Avery was born to screenwriter Stephen Morehouse Avery and his wife Evelyn Martine Avery.

, American actress *

Shondrella Avery Shondrella Dupre Avery is an American actress, model and comedian. Her film roles include as LaFawnduh Lucas-Dynamite in the independent comedy ''Napoleon Dynamite'' (2004), and supporting roles in ''Domino'' (2005) and '' The Secret Life of Bee ...

, American actress *

Val Avery Val may refer to: Val-a Film * ''Val'' (film), an American documentary about Val Kilmer, directed by Leo Scott and Ting Poo Military equipment * Aichi D3A, a Japanese World War II dive bomber codenamed "Val" by the Allies * AS Val, a Sov ...

(1924–2009), American actor

Science and engineering

Clarence W. Avery Clarence Willard Avery (February 15, 1882 – May 13, 1949) was an American business executive. He was considered a driving force behind Ford Motor Company's moving assembly line, and was president and chairman of auto-body supplier Murray Corpor ...

, engineer at Ford Motor Company *

John Scales Avery John Scales Avery (born in 1933) is a theoretical chemist noted for his research publications in quantum chemistry, thermodynamics, evolution, and history of science. Since the early 1990s, Avery has been an active world peace activist. During th ...

, theoretical chemist and peace activist *

Oswald Avery Oswald Theodore Avery Jr. (October 21, 1877 – February 20, 1955) was a Canadian-American physician and medical researcher. The major part of his career was spent at the Rockefeller Hospital in New York City. Avery was one of the first molecula ...

, physician and scientist *

R. Stanton Avery R. Stanton Avery (January 13, 1907 – December 12, 1997) was an American inventor, most known for creating self-adhesive labels (modern stickers). Using a $100 loan from his then-fiancé Dorothy Durfee, and combining used machine parts with a s ...

, (1907–1997), American inventor, created self-adhesive labels, founded Avery Dennison Corporation. * Robert Hanneman Avery, founded the

Avery Company The Avery Company, founded by Robert Hanneman Avery, was an American farm tractor manufacturer famed for its undermounted engine which resembled a railroad engine more than a conventional farm steam engine. Avery founded the farm implement busine ...

, an American farm tractor, truck and automobile manufacturer. *

William H. Avery (engineer) William Hinckley Avery (July 25, 1912 – June 26, 2004) was an influential aeronautical engineer. He designed the propulsion mechanism known as the ramjet, and was known for heading the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion program which generat ...

, aeronautics engineer

Sports

Albert Avery Albert Edward "Bert" "Slosher" Avery (first ¼ 1883 – 14 November 1914) was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Devon, and at ...

, English rugby league footballer *

Donnie Avery Donnie Dion Avery (born June 12, 1984) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Houston and was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Avery ...

(born 1984), American football player *

Genard Avery Genard Avery (born April 26, 1995) is an American football defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for Memphis, he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of ...

(born 1995), American football player *

George Avery Young George Avery Young (June 1866 – 21 January 1900) was an English-born sportsman who played international rugby union for Wales and cricket for Glamorgan. Rugby career Although born in Tynemouth in the North of England, Young moved to Wales wher ...

(1866–1900), English sportsman who played rugby and cricket *

Gordon George Avery Gordon George Avery, known as George Avery, (11 February 1925 – 22 September 2006) was an Australian athlete who mainly competed in the men's triple jump event. He was born in Moree, New South Wales and died in Woonona, New South Wales. ...

(1925–2006), Australian track and field athlete * James Avery (baseball) (born 1984) Canadian baseball player * Jim Avery (born 1944), American football player * John Avery (Canadian football), Canadian football player *

Ryan Avery (lacrosse) Ryan Avery (born June 27, 1982) is a Canadian former professional indoor lacrosse goaltender. He was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and played for the Buffalo Bandits and Calgary Roughnecks in the National Lacrosse League The National Lacrosse ...

, former lacrosse player *

Sean Avery Sean Christopher Avery (born April 10, 1980) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. During his career in the National Hockey League (NHL), he played left wing for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers and Dalla ...

(born April 10, 1980), Canadian professional hockey player * Steve Avery, former Major League Baseball pitcher *

Tre Avery Tre Avery (born February 26, 1997) is an American football cornerback for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Rutgers. Early life and high school career Avery grew up in Baltimore, Maryland ...

(born 1997), American football player *

William Avery (basketball) William Franklin Avery Jr. (born August 8, 1979) is an American former professional basketball player. College career Avery, at 6 ft 2 in (1.90 m), was the starting point guard on the 1998–99 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team, where ...

, professional basketball player * Xavier Avery (born 1990), American baseball player

Visual arts

Milton Avery Milton Clark Avery (March 7, 1885 – January 3, 1965Haskell, B. (2003). "Avery, Milton". Grove Art Online.) was an American modern painter. Born in Altmar, New York, he moved to Connecticut in 1898 and later to New York City. He was the husband ...

, American Modernist painter *

Tex Avery Frederick Bean "Tex" Avery (February 26, 1908 – August 26, 1980) was an American animator, cartoonist, animation director, director, and voice actor. He was known for directing and producing animated cartoons during the golden age of American a ...

, animator and director; creator of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck *

Susanna Avery-Quash Susanna Mary Avery-Quash (born 1970) is a British art historian, curator, and author. She is senior research curator at the National Gallery, researching its collections and curating 19th-century items in its history collection, and a research fell ...

(born 1970), an English art historian, Avery

Other

Bryan Avery Bryan Robert Avery MBE RIBA (2 January 1944 – 4 July 2017) was an English architect, born in Wallingford, Berkshire. After his childhood years spent in Lymington in the New Forest, Hampshire, he studied architecture at Leicester College o ...

, British architect *

Cyrus Avery Cyrus Stevens Avery (1871–1963) was a businessperson, oilman, and highway commissioner. He created the U.S. Route 66 while being a member of the federal board appointed to create the Federal Highway System, then pushed for the establishment of ...

, American highway commissioner *

Henry Every Henry Every, also known as Henry Avery (20 August 1659after 1696), sometimes erroneously given as Jack Avery or John Avery, was an English pirate who operated in the Atlantic and Indian oceans in the mid-1690s. He probably used several aliases ...

(or Avery), 17th-century pirate * James Avery (Medal of Honor), (1825–1898) Union Navy seaman and recipient of the Medal of Honor during the American Civil War *

Peter Avery Peter William Avery OBE (15 May 1923 – 6 October 2008) was an eminent British scholar of Persian and a Fellow of King's College, Cambridge. Career Avery contributed to English language work on Persian history and literature, such a ...

, Fellow of King's College, Cambridge *

, founder of Avery Dennison Corporation and namesake of Caltech's Avery House *

Sewell Avery Sewell Lee Avery (November 4, 1874 – October 31, 1960) was an American businessman who achieved early prominence in gypsum mining and became president of the United States Gypsum Company (1905–1936). At the beginning of the Depression, he ...

, U.S. businessman *

William Beilby Avery Sir William Beilby Avery, 1st Baronet (26 April 1854 – 28 October 1908"Death of Sir W.B. Avery, Bart." in ''The London Philatelist'', Vol. XVII, No. 203, November 1908, pp. 256-7.) was a British philatelist who was entered on the Roll of Disting ...

(1854–1908), philatelist

Fictional characters

Jackson Avery Jackson Avery, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a fictional character in the ABC prime time medical drama, ''Grey's Anatomy'', portrayed by actor Jesse Williams. The character was created by series creator and executive producer, Shonda Rhimes. He was introd ...

, in the TV series ''Grey's Anatomy'', or his grandfather, Harper Avery * Avery, a minor Death Eater in the ''

Harry Potter ''Harry Potter'' is a series of seven fantasy literature, fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young Magician (fantasy), wizard, Harry Potter (character), Harry Potter, and his friends ...

'' series * Bree Avery, protagonist of the ''

lonelygirl15 ''Lonelygirl15'' is an American science fiction thriller web series created by Miles Beckett, Mesh Flinders, Greg Goodfried, and Amanda Goodfried. It was independently released on YouTube from June 16, 2006 to August 1, 2008, and was also brief ...

'' Internet video series * Rupert Avery, a main character in ''

The Serpentwar Saga ''The Serpentwar Saga'' is a series of fantasy novels by American writer Raymond E. Feist. The novels revolve around two characters, Erik von Darkmoor and Roo Avery and also includes a host of previous characters from past novels, including Nakor, ...

'' * Shug Avery, one of the main characters in the 1983 novel ''

The Color Purple ''The Color Purple'' is a 1982 epistolary novel by American author Alice Walker which won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction.

References

{{surname, Avery sv:Dödsätare#Avery