Havis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Havis surname is derived from the Middle English/Old French given name Avice of uncertain origins, but interestingly one source noted that it is from "the personal name Avice, Latinized Avitius, found before 1086. (Domesday Book)." 1

Early Origins of the Havis family

The surname Havis was first found in Southeast England. There is a record of a person called "Auicia" in Parish records of St. Benet of Holme, Norfolk in circa 1175-86; and another of this name in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1199. Ricardus filius Avice was on record in the Subsidy Rolls for Staffordshire in 1332. 2

Early History of the Havis family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Havis research. Another 38 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1524, 1674, 1709, 1736, 1752 and 1770 are included under the topic Early Havis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Havis Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Havis have been found, including Avis, Avison, Aviss and others.

Early Notables of the Havis family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Charles Avison (1709-1770) English, Baroque composer. When a young man he visited Italy for the purpose of study, and after his return to England, became a pupil of Geminiani. On July 12, 1736, he was appointed organist of the church of St. Nicholas, in his native town. In addition to his musical attainments, he was a scholar, and a...
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Havis Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Havis family

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Havis were among those contributors: George Avis, a servant sent from Bristol to Virginia in 1663; George Avis, who received a land patent in Virginia in 1664; William Avis, who settled in Boston in 1664.

Contemporary Notables of the name Havis (post 1700) +

Ferdinand Havis (b. 1846), American Republican politician, Member of Arkansas State House of Representatives, 1873; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Arkansas, 1880, 1884, 1888, 1892, 1896, 1900, 1904, 1912 3

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html