Show ContentsOrvis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Scottish history reveals Orvis was first used as a surname by the Strathclyde-Briton people. It was a name for someone who lived in the parish of Irving in the county of Dumfriesshire or from Irvine in Strathclyde. There are a variety of possible origins of the name and we will explore some of them here. One source claims the name was a "descendant of Erewine (sea friend); or one who came from Irvine (green river), in Ayrshire. " 1

Another source postulates the name was from "Mac Heremon, 'Here-mon's Son.' Heremon was the seventh in descent from Milesius, and became monarch of all Ireland. 2 And another believes that Irwin was "the Irish form of Irvine. The singular Christian name Crinus, which prevails in the family of I. of Tanragoe, co. Sligo, is traditionally derived from Krynin Abethnas, the second husband of the mother of Duncan, King of Scotland." 3

Early Origins of the Orvis family

The surname Orvis was first found in Ayrshire, at Irvine, a parish, in the district of Cunninghame, about 26 miles (W. S. W.) from Glasgow. "[Irvine] derives its name from the river on which it is situated, and appears to have attained a high degree of importance at a very early period. The inhabitants obtained from Alexander II. a charter conferring upon the town all the privileges of a royal burgh; and a charter confirming all previous grants was subsequently given to them by Robert Bruce, in recompense of their services during his wars with England in the reign of Edward I." 4

Alternatively, the name was "from Irving, the name of an old parish in Dumfriesshire, There are many Irvings (or Irvines as most of the Dumfriesshire families spell the name) here." 5

According to voice of tradition, the family descend from Duncan "the first of Eryvine," killed at the battle of Duncrub in 965. Other records show the earliest listed was William de Irwin, an armor bearer to King Robert the Bruce. He received a grant of lands encompassing the Forest of Drum, on the banks of the River Irvine. And it was here that he had Drum Castle built which would become the family seat of the Clan for centuries. The river originally was named Lar Avon, or West River.

Robert de Hirvine, ancestor of that previous William was mentioned in a Charter dated 1226 and he was at that time tenant of the Douglas Clan. From 1331-33 the family received further grants of land and by 1400 had become a very predominant family. The Chief of the Irvines lead his Clansmen in the Battle of Harlaw in 1511. Sir Alexander Irvine was slain there, and it was said of him: 'Gude Sir Alexander Irvine, The much renowned Laird of Drum.' 5

"Washington Irving (1783-1859), the American author, was son of William Irving, a native of Shapinsay, Orkney." 5

Early History of the Orvis family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Orvis research. Another 263 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1057, 1323, 1324, 1331, 1332, 1376, 1411, 1455, 1587, 1602, 1638, 1658, 1685, 1689, 1752, 1759, 1762, 1763, 1769, 1890 and 1976 are included under the topic Early Orvis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Orvis Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that rules have developed and the process of spelling according to sound has been abandoned. Scottish names from before that time tend to appear under many different spelling variations. Orvis has been spelled Irwin, Erwin, Irvine, Irving, Urwin, Erwine, Ervin, Erwing, Ervynn, Ervine, Erwynn, Irwing, Irwryn and many more.

Early Notables of the Orvis family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Adam Irvine, Burgess of Irvine in 1455, doubtless derived his surname from Aberdeenshire. Sir Alexander Irvine of Drum (d. 1658), the Royalist, "was descended from William de Irvine, who was armour-bearer to Robert Bruce, and was rewarded for his devoted services by a grant of the forest of Drum, Aberdeenshire, at that time part of a royal forest. A grandson of William de Irvine (Sir Alexander) distinguished himself...
Another 76 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Orvis Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Orvis Ranking

In the United States, the name Orvis is the 14,213rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Orvis family to Ireland

Some of the Orvis family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 144 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Orvis migration to the United States +

Unwelcome in their beloved homeland, many Scots sailed for the colonies of North America. There, they found land and freedom, and even the opportunity to make a new nation in the American War of Independence. These Scottish settlers played essential roles in the founding of the United States, and the shaping of contemporary North America. Among them:

Orvis Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • George Orvis, who arrived in Connecticut in 1629 7
Orvis Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • W C Orvis, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 7
  • A M Orvis, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 7
  • Mrs. CH. E. Orvis, aged 40, who immigrated to America, in 1895
Orvis Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mrs. Orvis, aged 36, who immigrated to the United States, in 1903
  • G S Orvis, who landed in America, in 1903
  • Charles E. Orvis, who settled in America, in 1905
  • Arthur E. Orvis, who landed in America, in 1905
  • Louis C. Orvis, who settled in America, in 1906
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Orvis migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Orvis Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Ebenezer Orvis, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Orvis Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Eleazar Brooks Orvis, who landed in Canada in 1830
  • Silas Orvis, who landed in Canada in 1832

Contemporary Notables of the name Orvis (post 1700) +

  • Charles F. Orvis (d. 1915), American founder of Orvis Sporting Traditions, in Manchester, Vermont (1856)
  • Herbert "Herb" Vaughn Orvis (b. 1946), former American NFL football defensive tackle
  • John H. Orvis, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1864, 1888; Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Centre County, 1873-74 8
  • Horatio Orvis, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Jefferson County, 1817-18, 1826 8
  • Mrs. George Orvis, American Republican politician, Member of Republican National Committee from Vermont, 1924 8
  • Emerson Orvis, American politician, Socialist Labor Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 29th District, 1894 8
  • Ellis Lewis Orvis, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1916; Candidate for U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, 1916 8
  • Charles Orvis, American politician, Member of California State Assembly 18th District, 1857-58 8
  • Charles Orvis, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Jefferson County, 1830 8
  • C. Orvis, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Mayor of Monroe, Michigan, 1912 8
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Orvis Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Candide et constanter
Motto Translation: Fairly and firmly.


  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Moore, A.W., Manx Names. London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1906. Print
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook