Helen wrote:
Haven't I heard the name "Devon" in real life before? That could be where deva comes from.
Devon Malcolm, the Jamaican-born fast bowler who took nine wickets for 57 for England against South Africa at The Oval in 1994, murmuring "You guys are history." Once mentioned by a confused chairman of selectors in the phrase "Who could forget Malcolm Devon?"
But I always think of Deva as Chester.