Hervé

Hervé is a French given name of Breton origin. In English, it is sometimes rendered Harvey or Hervey. It already appears in Latin sources of the eighth century as Charivius. A later Latin form is Herveus. It derives from Old Breton Huiarnviu (cf. Old Welsh Haarnbiu) composed of OB hoiarn > Breton houarn “iron” (Welsh haearn) and OB viu > Breton bev “bright”, “blazing”.

The common Celtic root must be *isarno-biuos or *-ue(s)uos. It is widely asserted (though not all linguists would agree) that Old Celtic isarno- gave birth to the Germanic word that led to English iron.

The name may refer to:

Hervé Frankopoulos

Hervé (Greek: Ἑρβέβιος, Ervevios, Italian: Erveo), called Frankopoulos or Phrangopoulos (Greek: Φραγγόπουλος, "Son of the Frank"), was a Norman mercenary general in Byzantine service during the 1050s.

According to Amatus of Montecassino, Hervé and other Norman mercenaries fought for the Byzantine Empire under George Maniakes against the Muslims in Sicily in 1038-1040. Between 1040 and 1043, he took part in the campaign against the Greeks of Apulia and received the city of Avellino (1042/3). At about 1050, he appears as the leader of the Norman mercenaries under Nikephoros Bryennios the Elder and one of the Greek's two chief lieutenants. In the same year, he and Katakalon Kekaumenos were defeated by the Pechenegs near the Danube.

In 1056, he demanded the high court title of magistros from Emperor Michael VI Stratiotikos (r. 1056–1057). Refused, he withdrew to his estate in the Armeniac theme. From there, he gathered a following of 300 Normans, and in spring 1057 he marched into eastern Asia Minor, around Lake Van. There, he possibly aimed to set up a state for himself, and entered into wars with the Armenians and the Seljuk Turks. After initial success, he was eventually captured by a ruse by the emir of Ahlat, Abu Nasr.

Saint Hervé

Saint Hervé (c. 521 – 556), also known as Harvey, Herveus, Houarniaule or Huva, was a Breton saint of the sixth century. Along with Saint Ives, he is one of the most popular Breton saints. His birthplace is stated as being Guimiliau (Gwimilio) (and sometimes as Wales), and his legend states that he was the son of a renowned bard named Hyvarnion, a former member of the court of Childebert I. The name of Hervé's mother was Rivanone.

Hervé was born blind. With his disciple Guiharan, Hervé lived near Plouvien as a hermit and bard. His legend states that he had the power to cure animals and was accompanied by a domesticated wolf.

According to a legend, this wolf had devoured the ox or donkey Hervé used in plowing. Hervé then preached a sermon that was so eloquent that the wolf penitentially begged to be allowed to serve in the ox's stead. Hervé's wolf pulled the plow from that day on.

He was joined by more disciples and refused any ordination or earthly honor, accepting only to be ordained as an exorcist. He died in 556 and was buried at Lanhouarneau.