Davis is a surname of Welsh origin. It may be a corruption of Dyfed. Dyfed is recorded as a surname as late as the twelfth century, e.g. Gwynfard Dyfed, born 1175. Dafydd (generally translated into English as David) appears as a given name in the thirteenth century, e.g. Dafydd ap Gruffydd (1238–1283), Prince of Wales, and Dafydd ab Edmwnd (fl. c. 1450–1497), a Welsh poet. Alternatively, Davis may be a patronymic surname (son of David).[1]
| Pronunciation | /ˈdeɪvɪs/ DAY-vis plural Davises possessive Davis's, Davises' |
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Meaning | Descendant from Dyfed alt. Son of David |
| Region of origin | Wales |
| Other names | |
| Variant form(s) | David, Davies, Davison |
According to the 2000 United States census, it is the seventh most frequently reported surname, accounting for 0.48% of the population, preceding Garcia and following Miller.[2]
References
edit- ^ A dictionary of Irish surnames: with special American instances; Bardsley, Charles Wareing Endell, London. H. Frowde. 1901
- ^ United States Census Bureau (2000). Retrieved 2008-07-04