Alvey

Alvey is a surname of English origin, derived from the Old English given name Ælfwig. The name Ælfwig itself combines the elements ælf "elf" and wig "war, battle", giving it the meaning "elf battle" or "battle fought by elves". As a patronymic surname, Alvey would originally have denoted a descendant or follower of someone named Ælfwig.

The surname Alvey is most prevalent in England and has historically been concentrated in the Midlands and southern counties. Variants of the name include Alvie and Alvy, though these are less common. The personal name Ælfwig was recorded before the Norman Conquest, and the surname Alvey emerged in medieval records as a result of the hereditary naming system that became widespread in England after the conquest.

Notable bearers of the name include John Alvey, after whom the Alvey Programme—a major UK government research initiative in information technology from 1984 to 1990—was named. The programme responded to Japan's Fifth Generation project and aimed to boost British research in knowledge engineering and parallel computing.

• Meaning: of Ælfwig, from Old English 'ælf' (elf) + 'wig' (war, battle)
• Origin: English (patronymic from Old English given name Ælfwig)