A male name. Old German Gervas, compound of gairu ‘spear' and the Celtic stem vass- ‘servant’ (cf. vassal). SS Gervase and Protase were said to be 1st-C martyrs, whose remains were opportunely discovered at Milan by St Ambrose. The name was introduced into England by the Normans and was common in the 12th and 13th C, giving rise to the surnames Gervas, Gervis, Jarvis, Jarvie, &c. It was rarer in later times, but Jarvis is found as a christian name in 1604, and Lyford 1655 gives Gervasius or Gerfast. Some families have continued to use it, e.g. the family of Elwes which has used the name since the time of Sir Gervase Elwes (d. 1615).

Gervasius Curia Regis Rolls 1199-1219 Gervassius Feudal Aids 1284. Gervas Lincs 1456. Jarvis Yorks Rec 1604.

(rare), GERVASE or GERVAISE. The third form is a fusion of the second and French Gervais; the origin is either Classioal and obscure, or Teutonic and signifying ‘wareagerness’, perhaps literally ‘spear-eagerness’ (cf. Gerald). There is one St. Gervase, a C1 martyr, was a son of that other much-esteemed martyr, St. Vitalis, and a brother of yet another, St. Protase (Benedictines).

From the Old German ger-wisa, a war leader; or ger-wis, very wise or prudent.