Surname Davis - Meaning and Origin
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Deciphering the Ancestral Journey of the Davis Surname through iGENEA DNA Test
Discovering one's ancestral roots through DNA tests can be a dizzying dive into history, as I discovered with my iGENEA DNA test. The level of detail and depth of information it provided about my lineage, based on the Davis surname, was both surprising and insightful. The test took me on an extraordinary journey, tracing the Davis lineage back to the early Neolithic period. Fascinatingly, it established a link with the emergence of agriculture and revealed an association with the Celtic tribes of Western Europe.
F. Davis
read moreDavis: What does the surname Davis mean?
Davis is a patronymic surname that has Welsh origins, derived from the first name David, meaning "beloved". This last name became popular in Wales and England following the reign of the Biblical King David. It is an Anglicized version of the original Welsh surname Dyfed. Yet, when surnames became mandatory in England by the 14th century, the 's' was added to signify 'son of', translating Davis to "son of David." It is among the most common surnames in the England, Wales and the United States. Notable people with the surname include Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War, and legendary jazz musician Miles Davis.
Order DNA origin analysisDavis: Where does the name Davis come from?
The last name Davis is of Welsh origin and it means 'son of David.' This is the result of a common tradition within Welsh surnames which involves adding an 's' to a first name to indicate the 'son of' the person carrying said name. David, the root name from which Davis is derived, means 'beloved.' This name rose to popularity in the Middle Ages, particularly through religious affiliation with the biblical King David.
Today, Davis is a common surname across English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. According to several census data, Davis consistently ranks amongst the most popular family names in the United States, making it a prevalent feature of the English-speaking world. Despite its Welsh origins, the surname Davis is much less common in Wales, where traditional Welsh surnames, like Jones and Williams, continue to dominate.
Variations of the surname Davis
The name Davis is a patronymic name that means "son of David". It's of Welsh origin and has different variants, spellings and synonyms from around the world. In some cases, the variants have evolved due to regional dialects and pronunciation, while in other cases, they have changed due to emigration or Anglicization.
The most common variants of the surname Davis include Davison, Davidson, and Davies, which are commonly used in the UK. Other variants include Devis, Davids, Davidson, Davys, Daves and Davi.
Moreover, some surnames that originate from the same root "David" include Dawson, Dawes, Day, Dakin, and Deas.
Different countries and regions also have their own versions of "David" and therefore, "Davis". For example, in Spain, you might find the surname Davila, from the same origin. In Italy, it could be D'Avi or Davi, in Portugal Davide, in France Davet or Davin, and in Russia, it could be Davydov.
Similar to many surnames, there are also hyphenated versions available such as Davis-Smith or Davis-Jones. Such versions usually come into existence when families merge through marriage and decide to maintain both family lineages in the surname.
Famous people with the name Davis
- There are several famous people known with the last name Davis, across varying industries and fields. These include:
- Bette Davis: An iconic Hollywood actress renowned for her performances in films such as "All About Eve" and "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?".
- Viola Davis: An award-winning actress recognized for her work in movies like "The Help" and TV series "How to Get Away with Murder."
- Miles Davis: A renowned jazz musician famous for his innovative approach to the genre.
- Geena Davis: An actress known best for roles in "Thelma & Louise", "A League of Their Own", and the TV series "Commander in Chief".
- Angela Davis: A famously radical activist and author.
- Jefferson Davis: The President of Confederate States during the American Civil War.
- Sammy Davis Jr.: An entertainer who was part of the "Rat Pack" and starred in "Ocean's 11."
- Clive Davis: A record producer and music industry executive renowned for his work with a wide range of artists.
- Kristin Davis: An actress best known for her role as Charlotte York in "Sex and the City."
- Jonathan Davis: The lead vocalist for the band Korn.
- Joe Davis: An English professional snooker and English billiards player.
- Warwick Davis: An English actor, television presenter, writer, director, and producer. He played the title characters in Willow and the Leprechaun series.