Tracing the Deveaux Family Name

Families named Deveaux share a French surname with a long history. In Elsdon Smith's reading, the name described “dweller in a valley”.

Family crest and blazon

Heraldry follows families, not surnames. A Deveaux coat of arms, where one exists, belonged to a specific line.

Researching the origin

Landscape names of this kind told neighbours where a family's house stood. The name also appears as Deveau.

The 2010 US Census counted 1,173 people named Deveaux, ranking it number 22,081 among American surnames. French birth records list 3,314 children named Deveaux between 1891 and 2000. The name became more frequent over the century. Names that sound alike, such as Devaux, are easily confused in old records. Want more than a summary? See the Deveaux family name pack.