Surname Chavas - Meaning and Origin
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Chavas: What does the surname Chavas mean?
The last name Chavas is a French surname most likely derived from the personal name “Chavasse.” The term Chavasse is derived from the Latin word “caballicare,” which means “to bridle or control.” The meaning behind this surname then is based off the concept of someone who is responsible and able to bridle their horses and maintain control over them.
Chavas may also be a variant of Chaveau, a patronymic (name derived from a father’s name) surname which is derived from the old Occitan name of Chaval. A Chaval is derived from the Latin term “caballus,” once again indicating the significance of horses in the meaning of the name. This name was therefore likely given to someone who was skilled in horsemanship, as well as being responsible or able to maintain control.
The term Chavas can also have religious associations as it can be found as a name used within Biblical context. It has been noted in the book of Chronicles in the New Testament, where it is listed as the name of one of the sons of Obed-Edom, who himself is an ancestor of King David.
Overall, the surname Chavas is likely derived from the concept of horsemanship and being able to controle horses, although it could also have religious connections.
Order DNA origin analysisChavas: Where does the name Chavas come from?
The last name Chavas is especially common today in Latin American countries, such as Mexico and Colombia. The name Chavas is a Hispanic surname, derived from the name Xavier, with the Spanish spelling of Chaves or Chavar. It is also popular in France, Portugal, and parts of Spain.
In Mexico, Chavas is a popular last name among the indigenous Otomi-Tepehua peoples in the state of Hidalgo and the Mexican army viceroy from 1754 to 1760, Silverio Chavas Calietti, is an example of the prestige the family has earned in its native land over the centuries.
In Colombia, Chavas is part of the history of the country since its conquest days, when don Alonso and dona Maria Chaves arrived in the Colombian territory in the 17th century. Since then, the Chavas family has been prominent in the country's judiciary system, politics, and even economics.
In Portugal, Spanish-speakers emigrated from the southern part of Spain, bringing with them the Chavas name and family traditions. The name is particularly prevalent in the islands of Madeira and the Azores, due to the contributions of a prominent family member, D. Jacinto Chaves, who began the first steamboat commercial activities in the mid-19th century.
In France, the Chavas name arrived in the 19th century as well, and today, it is commonly found in the city of Marseille and its environs.
The Chavas family is known to be a highly successful family of good reputation throughout Latin America and has maintained its presence in several countries throughout the centuries.
Variations of the surname Chavas
The surname Chavas is of French origin and can be spelled in a variety of ways, including Chavas, Chavasse, Chaveau, Chaveaux, Chavet, and Chaves. All of these variants are derived from the French word chevalier, meaning knight. Chavas is also found in other parts of the world, including Spain, Portugal, and Latin American countries.
In France, the surname often appears as Chavasse, Chaveau, and Chaveaux. Chavet is another variant of the same name found in predominantly French-speaking regions of Canada such as Quebec and New Brunswick. In Spain, the surname appears as Chaves or Chavar. In Portugal, the surname appears as Chavas or Chavares.
The surname Chavas is also found in Latin American countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. In Mexico, it is commonly found as Chávez or Chavarría. Variants such as Chavarria, Chavarella, and Chavarria are also found in other Latin American countries.
In addition to these variants, the surname Chavas may also appear as an anglicized version of the French spelling with the suffix “-es”; for example, Chaves or Chavettes. There is also evidence of the name being spelled with the more Spanish sounding “Chevez”, but this is less common.
Famous people with the name Chavas
- Edgar Chavas: Venezuelan composer, guitarist, and pianist.
- Sofia Chavas: Spanish actress.
- Pablo Chavas: French-Mexican football player.
- Daniel Chavas: Peruvian-American singer and former lead singer of the Latin pop music group Yndio.
- Forrest Chavas: American actor from Los Angeles, best known for playing "Vance" in YouTube's Bad Kids of Crestview Academy.
- Curt Chavas: American former professional basketball player.
- Onur Chavas: Turkish footballer who currently plays for Fenerbahçe.
- Juan Chavas: Mexican politician and former police officer who held various posts in the Revolutionary Institutional Party.
- Lief Chavas: professional American e-sports player, best known for streaming and competing in Fortnite.
- Christian Chavas: innovative fitness guru and the co-founder of the exercise movement X-TRAIN, based in Los Angeles.