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Descendants of Rychard Hovey (1575-1637)
Individual surnames originated for the purpose of more specific identification. The four primary sources for second names were: occupation, location, father's name and personal characteristics. The surname Hovey appears to be locational in origin, and is believed to be associated with the Finn's, meaning, "dweller at, or near the court." The name of Hove, accented on the terminal syllable, is found in France, Holland, Norway and Sweden. Different spellings of the same original surname are a common occurrence, and dictionaries of surnames indicate probable spelling variations. The most prominent variations of Hovey are Hovi, Hove, Hoveys and Hovie. Our colonial sires were not exact spellers, and varied from Hovey to Hovy, Hovie, Houey, etc. In The Hovey Book it is noted that the letters s, f, and v were often mistaken for each other or simply used interchangeably. Mr. W. H. Ricker, an officer of The Hovey Association in the early 1900's, gave these questions some consideration. The Hovey Book also mentions that the rector of Waltham Abbey, Rev. J.H. Stamp, suggested that the original name may have been "Tovi", dating back to the great Danish thane, Ralph de Tovi, the royal standard bearer at whose wedding feast Hardicanute died, and on whose land the famous Holy Cross was found which he brought to Waltham and reared on a church built for its reception. Giving this idea for what it may be worth, Mr. Ricker had seen in Waltham Abbey vestment room the name of "Covey", thus spelled, "in bold clear Saxon letter" thus proving that our own way is not an American innovation. But he also says that there is no place yet known, except at Waltham, where the name was spelled "Covey" prior to 1590; but "Houfe" was common in the older Waltham MSS., and elsewhere. There was one Richard Houfe in Lincolnshire in 1329, and another Houfe was buried in Westminster Abbey. The names of Houfe, Huffe and Huffee are found in English history. One fact worth noting is that the traditional original form of our family name, Hove, is given to a municipal borough of Essex, England. Although the parish of Hove is ancient, the incorporation of the borough only dates to 1898, having formerly been of Brighton. It was in 1637 that the name of Hovey first appears in the records of Ipswich. Later Hovey's wharf is described as Hoffets wharf. These facts may not amount to proofs, but are worth considering. Daniel Hovey was one of the early settlers of Ipswich, Massachusetts, arriving in 1635 at the age of seventeen. He was born at Waltham Abbey, in Essex county, England, 9 Aug 1618; son of Rychard Hovey, a glover. The town of Ipswich granted Daniel six acres of land on Muddy creek; a house lot, one acre of ground on the south side of the town river; also six acres of planting ground on Sagamore Hill. He became somewhat prominent, and held several town offices in Ipswich; being chosen one of the selectmen, a surveyor of highways, and a constable. In May, 1660, a colony went from Ipswich to Quaboag, a place subsequently named Brookfield; and Daniel Hovey joined it in 1668. Daniel Hovey was living in Quaboag in May, 1672, but had moved to Hadley before the massacre at Quaboag in 1675. While living in Hadley, he suffered much at the hands of the Indians, and was a sharer in providing defense for the town. Daniel Hovey married Abigail Andrews, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Andrews of Ipswich, about 1641. He died in Ipswich 24 April 1692. Most of the early descendants of Daniel Hovey are well documented in the Hovey Book which was published in 1913 by the Press of Louis R. Hovey in Haverhill, Ma. Rychard
Hovey, b. abt. 1575, d. abt. March 1636/37, Waltham Abbey,
Essex, England, buried 7 March 1636/37, Waltham Abbey, Essex, England;
m. Widow Hovey (The Elder)
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