Calvert

/ˈkælvərt/ noun

Definition

A surname of Norman-French origin, also referring to Lord Calvert who founded the Maryland colony. In some contexts, refers to a culvert or drainage structure.

Etymology

From Norman-French Chauvert, meaning 'bald' or 'hairless', from chauf (bald) + -vert (diminutive). The name came to England with Norman settlers and became associated with American colonial history through the Calvert family's establishment of Maryland.

Kelly Says

The Calvert family not only founded Maryland but also established it as a haven for religious tolerance in colonial America - a radical concept for the 1600s. Their coat of arms still appears on Maryland's state flag, making it one of the most heraldically complex state flags in the US.

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