Paviour

This interesting surname, with its variant forms, Pavier, Pavior, Paviour and Pavyer, is of medieval French origin and is an occupational name for a layer of pavements, the status and skill of which, varied from the masters of the craft to labourers, the more skilled being men of standing. Ornamental tiles and marbles were used for paving the floors of cathedrals, palaces, etc., and in 1308, Hugh le Peyntour and Peter the Pavier were employed "making and painting the pavement" at St. Stephen's Chapel, Westminster. The derivation is from the Middle English and Old French "pavier", from the word "paver", to pave. Among the early recordings in London is the marriage of John Paver and Em. Bull, on September 10th 1546, at St. Mark's, Kennington, and the christening of Wyllm Paver on March 24th 1553, at St. Stephen's, Coleman Street. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter Pavier, which was dated 1212, in the "Curia Rolls of Yorkshire", during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. 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.