Surname Davy - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'D'
Newfound Ancestral Knowledge: Discovering the Davy Lineage Through iGENEA DNA Testing
Embarking on a personal quest to explore my ancestral roots, I undertook a DNA test at iGENEA that provided astonishing insights into my lineage traced back to the Davy family. The process connected the puzzle pieces of my genetic heritage, revealing an intricate global map of ancestry that has profoundly influenced how I see myself in the universe.
T. Davy
read moreDavy: What does the surname Davy mean?
The origin of the last name Davy is most likely derived from the Welsh given name "Dafydd," similar to the English name David. It is possible that the name started off as a nickname for someone with similar characteristics of King David from the Bible, meaning "beloved" or "friend." Other sources suggest that the name was derived from the French word "David" which means "to love," which would make the name an occupational surname for someone involved in a job involving love or affection.
Different spellings of the name include Davi, Davey, Davy, and Dewey, and branches of its ancestors developed in Ireland and Scotland. The name is common among areas in the United Kingdom, such as Wales, England, and Scotland, and is especially popular in Ireland. It is also popular in the United States, particularly along the East Coast.
The Davy name was most famously associated with Sir Humphry Davy, an English chemist and inventor who discovered many elements and compounds and was a prominent and respected figure among his contemporaries. He contributed to the fields of electrochemistry and thermochemistry, and is known for his inventions such as the Davy safety lamp, an instrument for underwater lighting. He won many awards, including the Royal Society of London’s Copley Medal, which was the highest award of its kind at the time. Another famous person who bears the name is John Davy, an Australian doctor and naturalist who was also respected for his academic and medical accomplishments.
Today, the Davy name is commonly associated with loving, passionate, and dedicated individuals, who are willing to work hard in order to achieve their goals. People with this name can be found in all walks of life, including science, business, art, and politics.
Order DNA origin analysisDavy: Where does the name Davy come from?
The last name Davy is common in many countries. It is most numerous in the United Kingdom, where it ranks 162nd in towns and cities, and is particularly common in counties in and around London. It also has pockets of presence in the United States, Ireland, France, Canada, and Australia.
In the United Kingdom, the Davy surname primarily originates from an old form of the Hebrew name David, meaning beloved, or beloved of God. But there are other possible origins, including a suggestion that it is a Welsh nickname, Da-vi, meaning "black and benevolent".
In the USA, Davy is ranked 837th and is most common in the Midwest and South, with larger numbers than average in the states of Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. It is especially prominent in Appalachian parts of those states. In recent centuries, it is likely that the surname was spread throughout these regions by families originally from the British Isles.
In Canada, Davy is a very rare name, ranked 13,235th in its popularity rankings. The provinces of Manitoba and British Columbia have the highest concentrations of the name, with larger numbers of people recorded in the towns of Winnipeg and Kitimat.
Davy is a surname that has its roots in the countries of the British Isles and beyond. It has been recorded in many different places, from major cities all the way to the rural towns of Appalachia. Its provision will reach far, and its legacy is one to be proud of.
Variations of the surname Davy
Davy is a surname of French origin, and can take many different variant spellings and other surnames of the same origin. These include Davie, Davey, Davi, Davia, Daevis, Daevy, Deve, Deavie, Deavey, Deavi, Deavo, Devea, Devey, Devei, Devy, Davye, Davit, Deavit, Davitt, and Davo.
The surname may sometimes be spelled Davy or Davey in English. The French spelling would usually be David, with the suffix "-e" for a female form. Some other variants or forms of the name derive from smaller places or towns in France. For example, Davée is associated with the town of Davé in the Charente-Maritime department and the Vendée region.
Other variations of the surname may also be found, such as Dewey, Dewie, and Devey. Variants may appear with other prefix or suffix forms, such as Mc/Mac- for Scottish or Irish origins, or -son/-s or -sen for Scandinavian or Germanic derivations.
The Davy surname may also be translated to different languages, such as the Dutch or German Davids, the Spanish David, the Italian Davide, or the Russian Davyd or Davydov.
The surname Davy can also be found as a middle name and is becoming increasingly more popular every year. As a given name, Davy may be abbreviated to "Dave" in the UK and US. Shortened versions of this name are also found, such as Dav, Dave, or Dai.
Famous people with the name Davy
- Jean Davy: French swimmer and Olympic champion
- Michael Davy: British film and television actor
- Dave Davy: Bermudian internationally respected expert in tropical marine and environmental research
- Peter Davy: English cricketer
- Jean-Baptiste Davy de la Pailleterie: French aristocrat who was the great-grandfather of the famous writer Alexandre Dumas
- Sean Davy: Professional skateboarder
- Alan Davy: Irish actor
- Anneke Davy: Dutch actress
- Anna Davy: American actress
- Bill Davy: New Zealand rugby union referee
- Edward Davy: British scientist remembered for Davy's Safety Lamp
- Emma Lou Davy: English novelist and poet
- Joana Davy: Ecuadorian model
- John Davy: British physician and chemist
- Joseph Davy: English actor, singer and poet
- Keith Davy: South African actor
- Mark Davy: English entrepreneur and philanthropist
- Robert Davy: 16th century English botanist
- Rory Davy: English chef
- Susanna Davy: British artist