This interesting name derives from the diminutive of the Olde French personal name Ive (diminutive Ivett(e) or Yve (diminutive Yvette). Both derive from the Olde Norse personal name "Ivo" meaning "yew" or "bow", (the bow was generally made from the wood of the yew tree). One John filius (son of) Ivette is recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdon in 1273. The first recording of the surname is earlier ie. 1262. Alternate spellings have included Ivet (1271) and Iuot (1327). In the modern idiom the name appears as Ivett and Ivatt with the patronymics Ivetts and Ivatts. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Ivette which was dated 1262, in the "Feet of fines at Suffolk". during the reign of King Henry 111 known as "The Frenchman" 1216 - 1272. 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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