Surname Havins - Meaning and Origin

Havins: What does the surname Havins mean?

The last name Havins is an old and uncommon name with a variety of spellings which include Havin, Havan, Havin, Hovann and Havilin. Research conducted into its origin suggests that the the name may have been of English origin, although a number of languages have similar spellings. One theory suggests that the name derived from a variant of the old English name “Haefene” which designated a person living in a corner of an enclosed area, such as a yard or a corner of a field. It is also possible that the name originated from a female forename which was derived from “Hav” which means “happiness”. Records of the name date back to the 16th century and its variants are found in England, the USA, Canada, Scotland, Ireland and the Netherlands.

In terms of the family's lineage, Havins appears to be a relatively old and prestigious surname. It is not known how far back this lineage can be traced, but it is known to have been held by several prominent members of the nobility and other prestigious families around the world with whom the Havins family may have had connections.

Overall, the last name Havins is a rare and ancient name that has its roots in a variety of languages. Its ancient English origin is uncertain, but it is possible that it is derived from the old English forename “Haefene” or from the word “hav” meaning “happiness”. The family bearing the name has a rather prestigious history and can trace its lineage back to several prominent figures in history.

Havins: Where does the name Havins come from?

The last name Havins is most common in the United States, where it ranks as the 8,626th most common surname according to the 2020 US Census. The states with the highest prevalence of the name are Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas. In Tennessee, Havins is ranked the 648th most common name, with 1 in every 3,620 people having the name. The name was originally found in south-central England and comes from a place named Havins. It is a location-based surname, with the original meaning of "someone from Havins." The name is believed to have come to the United States with English settlers who colonized the Atlantic Seaboard. Many of the earliest ancestors can be found in records from the 1600s in Virginia, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Today, the name continues to be fairly common in southeastern states and is perpetuated throughout America as people with the surname have moved.

Variations of the surname Havins

The surname Havins is an English and Irish patronymic surname derived from the given name Havin, a form of the name Gavin. It can also be spelled Havin or Havens. Numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin can be traced in relation to Havins, including Havin, Havines, Haveen, Havens, Havins, Havyn, Havinss, and Havan.

Havin is the original and oldest form of the name, derived from the medieval given name Gawen, it is thought to be a contraction of "Gawenius," a diminutive of Gawain. It is often a component of Middle English given names such as Godhavin and Agravein.

Havines and Haveen are a phonetic variant of the name Havin, while Havens is likely is an Anglicized form.

Havins and Havyn are most likely diminutives of the original Havin. Like many surnames, in some cases it is shortened for ease of pronunciation or to form a more distinctive moniker.

Havinsso or Havan are thought to be the result of an error made when records were being kept, as they involve other popular elements found in traditional patronymic and topographic surnames. Such errors—which often occurred with scribes and early record keepers—were commonplace in when surnames first came into use.

It is also worth noting that some of the names mentioned above are overlapping—sometimes they are regional variants of the same name, and sometimes they can be considered the same family name. As is the case with many surnames, tracing their ancestry can be a difficult task.

Famous people with the name Havins

• Stephen Havins: American journalist and photographer
• Ron Havins: American actor
• Brian Havins: American politician
• Madeline Havins: English actress
• Dean Havins: Canadian filmmaker
• Amy Havins: English singer
• PJ Havins: American rap artist
• Chase Havins: American actor and musician
• Jack Havins: Australian soccer player
• Mitch Havins: American football player

Other surnames

Havin