Surname Haviland - Meaning and Origin

Haviland: What does the surname Haviland mean?

The surname Haviland is of Norman origin. It was first found in the region of Havilland, in Normandy, and was brought over to England after the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. The name Haviland literally means "Havel's land" or "land of Havel", a reference to the land owned by an early ancestor named Havel. Over time, the name has been spelled in many different ways including Havilland, De Havilland, and De Haveland. This surname is commonly used in English-speaking countries such as England, the United States, and Canada. A notable figure with this last name is Geoffrey de Havilland, a British aviation pioneer and aircraft engineer.

Haviland: Where does the name Haviland come from?

The surname Haviland originates from Normandy, France. It is believed to have descended from Viking settlers named Havel or Haval in Old Norse. In the 11th century, some descendants migrated to England and Scotland during the Norman Conquest.

The present form of Haviland emerged in the Channel Islands, especially on the island of Guernsey, where there's even a street by this name. The surname Haviland also spread to the United States with early settlers.

Today, it is predominantly found in the United States and England. Haviland is an uncommon name, with Census Bureau data suggesting that it falls outside of the top 150,000 surnames in the United States. Similarly, UK data places it outside the 20,000 most common surnames. There are also smaller numbers of Havilands in Canada, Australia, France, and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname Haviland

The surname Haviland has several different variants and spellings. Some of them are Haveland, Heaviland, Havilland, de Havilland, de Havieland, Heveland, Haivland, and Havelland. Additionally, Americanized versions of the name may drop the "d" at the end, resulting in Havilan or Havelan.

The name itself is of Norman descent, brought to Britain after the Norman invasion. It is derived from the French place name "Havilland" in Normandy. It's thought to be based on the old Norse terms "haf", meaning 'haven' or 'sea', and "land", meaning 'land'.

Arguably, the most famous branch of this surname is "de Havilland" who are well-known in the aviation and film industry. Notable figures include Oscar-winning actress Olivia de Havilland and her sister, Joan Fontaine. Their cousin, Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, was an innovative aircraft designer whose company produced the Mosquito and the Comet, the first jet airliner.

In some cases, the surnames could have been changed due to locality, dialect, or personal preference, which makes tracing the lineage slightly complex. The origins of the name suggest that people with these surnames might have a lineage dating back to seafarers or people living by the coast.

Famous people with the name Haviland

• Charles Lamalfa Haviland (1843-1912): American politician and farmer who served as the 28th Governor of the State of Vermont between 1872 and 1874.
• Cory Haviland (b. 1978): American organizer, entrepreneur and educator who specializes in youth development, community building, and urban entrepreneurship.
• David Haviland (1827-1885): American businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist best known for founding Haviland Limoges, a porcelain business.
• Francis M. Haviland (1840-1905): American soldier who served in the American Civil War, reaching the rank ofbrevet brigadier general.
• John Haviland (1792-1852): English architect mainly active in India between 1819 and 1836. He designed many buildings across India, most notably St. John's Church in Bombay and the Allahabad High Court building.
• Laura Haviland (1808-1898): American abolitionist, feminist and reformer who was active in the Underground Railroad and the women's rights movement.
• Mark Haviland (b. 1962): American professor of linguistics, author, and occasional presenter of the PBS television series “Learning about Language”.
• Ross Haviland (b. 1965): American actor best known for his roles in movies such as “Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach” and “Man of the House”.
• Saul Haviland (1821–1895): American educator and administrator who served as the president of Amherst College from 1868 to 1893.
• Thomas Haviland (1796-1880): English inventor who is best known for his design of a continuous railway carriage in 1833.

Other surnames

Havilant