What is the meaning of the last name cavalier?

Question

What is the meaning of the name cavalier. Like Katrina means pure. Give the best get the best.

Answer 1

This is what www.ancestry.com has to say about the name,

Cavalier Name Meaning and History

Southern French: variant of Chevalier (meaning ‘knight’, ‘rider’).

hope this helps.

Answer 2

Southern French: variant of Chevalier (meaning ‘knight’, ‘rider’

this comes from ancestry.com

Answer 3

http://www.ancestry.com/facts/Cavalier.a...

CAVALIER Meaning:

Southern French: variant of Chevalier (meaning ‘"knight"’, ‘"rider"’).

Chevalier Name Meaning and History

French: from Old French "chevalier" ‘"knight"’ (literally ‘"horseman"’, ‘"rider"’, from Late Latin "caballarius", a derivative of "caballus" ‘"horse"’). In the Middle Ages only men of comparative wealth were able to afford the upkeep of a riding horse. It is likely that in the majority of cases the surname was originally a nickname, or an occupational name for a knight's servant, rather than a status name, for most men of the knightly class belonged to noble families which had more specific surnames derived from their estates.

www.familysearch.org has these spelling variations: CAVALHEIRO, CUVILLIER , CAVILEER , CUVELIER, CAVELLIER , CAVALLIER , COVELLER, CAUALLIER ,

CEVELIER , CAVLER, CAVALEERE, CAVELLAR , LE CAVALLIER, CAVALIERE, CAUUELIER, CAVELIRO, and KAVELER .

    The name is found in  Finland, Belgium, France, England, US (various states), Australia, Italy,South America (Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia), Mexico, Germany, Netherlands, Caribbean Islands, India, Portugal,  and Sicily.

The earliest listing is: Pierre CAVALIER who was born in Bagnols-En-Foret, Var, France about 1590.

In England, the earliest was HENRY CAVELIRO, born 09 FEB 1595  at Saint Olave Hart Street, London.