Surname Servais - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Servais: What does the surname Servais mean?
The surname Servais is a French occupational surname derived from the Latin word serviens, which means "servant". It was given to those who were employed as servants or did manual labor. This surname has various spellings, including Servais, Servot, Servaisse, Servoce, and Servaisier. In some cases, it may have been a nickname derived from the Old French word servis, which means "a law citizen".
The earliest recorded use of the surname Servais was in 1361 in Picardy, France. The first recorded spelling was found in the registers of the Abbey of Saint-Martin-des-Champs between 1362 and 1368, when the name appeared as Servoy. Over the centuries, people with this surname moved around France and other parts of Europe, as well as to North America.
Today, Servais is a commonly used surname throughout Europe and North America. It is most common in France, Belgium and Canada. In the United States, the population of people with the surname Servais is slowly growing; it was ranked 10,595th in the 2000 US Census.
Order DNA origin analysisServais: Where does the name Servais come from?
The surname Servais is a very old name that is still found today in many parts of the world. In France, Servais is a relatively common last name with a presence recorded in several départements. The name is primarily linked to the Picardy and Nord-Pas-de-Calais regions. In Belgium, Servais is among the top 10 most common surnames, where it is primarily associated with the province of Hainaut.
Servais has an even stronger presence in Canada, primarily in the province of Quebec. It ranks as the 531st most common last name in all of Canada, making it quite popular. In the United States, Servais still maintains a presence though it is much less common. The name is primarily associated with the states of Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kansas.
In today's world, the surname Servais is associated with many different cultures and histories, having spread to various parts of the world. With a strong presence in Western nations, Servais is a relatively common last name across many parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Servais
Servais is a French surname with multiple variants and spellings. The most common variants are Service, Sarvée, Servent, Servy, Serveau, Sarvez, Servé, Servaes, and Servais.
The Servais surname originated in Picardy, a region of historical France, near the English Channel. The name is derived from the Latin phrase ‘servus’ meaning ‘slave’, or ‘servire’ meaning ‘to serve’ and is most common in France and Belgium.
The surname spelling variations over time may have been due to a number of factors such as regional dialects, mistakes by local authorities in recording names, or cultural influences. Variants may also depend on the location of the name’s origin within regional dialects such as Picard, which are known to have many variants.
The Servais name was, and continues to be, used by many families in France. A search of French city archives may reveal some interesting facts about the family’s history. Depending on an individual's family line, Servais may be used both as a given name or surname, and records may reveal married couples with the same married name, or siblings born with the same given name but a different surname when they married.
Servais is also a variant of the Jewish surnames Svirsky, Svirajski, and Svirsky-Servais. They originate from a small town in Lithuania known as Anyksciai, and were greatly affected by the Holocaust. Members of this branch of the family were scattered across Europe, and although the exact origin is uncertain, the surnames can be found in Russia, England, and the United States.
In conclusion, the Servais surname can be found in a variety of spellings and forms across Europe, and may have derived from the Latin ‘servus’ meaning ‘slave’ or ‘servire’ meaning ‘to serve.’ However, further research may be necessary to fully explore this family’s history.
Famous people with the name Servais
- Dimitri Servais: a musician from Belgium who also has a YouTube channel.
- Ryan Servais: a business director who has been featured in Forbes Magazine and Bloomberg Businessweek.
- Jeanne Servais: a Belgian film actress who starred in her first movie in 1939.
- Jean Servais: a Belgian actor who starred in one of the most successful films, streets of Paris.
- Joris Servais: a former Belgian football player.
- Hans Servais: a Belgian cartoonist.
- David Servais: a neurosurgeon and specialist in spinal cord injury.
- Olivier Servais: a former Belgian diplomat.
- Frans Servais: a former Belgian professional basketball player.
- Paul Servais: a Belgian artist and sculptor.
- Jan Servais: a former Belgian road and track cyclist.
- Gerald Servais: a Belgian painter largely known for his portraiture.
- Lucas Servais: a Belgian metalcore and deathcore musician.