The given name Evert is derived from the Germanic root name Eberhard, which is composed of the elements "eber" meaning "boar" and "hard" meaning "brave" or "hardy". This name originated in medieval times among the Germanic peoples of central and northern Europe.

In its earliest form, Evert was a diminutive or pet form of the longer name Eberhard. The first recorded instances of the name date back to the 12th century in areas such as Saxony and the Low Countries. Over time, Evert became an established name in its own right, particularly popular in the Netherlands and northern Germany.

One of the earliest notable figures with the name Evert was Evert van Benthem, a 14th-century Dutch nobleman and Lord of Rhoon. In the 15th century, Evert Zoudenbalch was a renowned Dutch painter and one of the earliest artists to specialize in landscape painting.

During the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century, several prominent individuals bore the name Evert. Evert Pietersen, born in 1588, was a Dutch East India Company merchant and one of the first Europeans to establish trade relations with Japan. Evert Colyer, born in 1642, was a celebrated Dutch Golden Age painter known for his still life paintings and trompe-l'œil works.

In the 18th century, Evert Willemsz Bogaert, born in 1696, was a Dutch navigator and explorer who led expeditions to Australia and the Pacific Islands. Evert Musch, born in 1765, was a Dutch politician and jurist who played a significant role in the Batavian Revolution and the establishment of the Batavian Republic.

The name Evert continued to be popular in the Netherlands throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. Evert Jan Thomassen à Thuessink van der Hoop, born in 1851, was a Dutch nobleman and politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Netherlands.