A personal name from the Hebrew Dawidh, probably meaning "beloved one," though some scholars take it to mean "paternal uncle." Lord Hailes after commenting on the fact that not one of the six sons of Malcolm III received the name of any of the ancient kings of Scotland, but only Anglo-Saxon names evidently chosen by Queen Margaret, says "As David was the youngest, we may conjecture that he was born when Margaret had no hope of more children; and therefore that he received the name of the youngest son of Jesse" (Annals, 3. ed., I, p. 47). One of the first professors of the University of Copenhagen (founded 1479) was a Scot, Petrus David de Scotia, D.D., who was elected president of the university no fewer than six times.

'son of David,' which see. The second form is from the diminutive Davie. Johannes filius Davidis was burgess of Perth in 1219 (Scon, p. 52), and Adam fiz Dauid of Forfarshire and Johan le fiz David of Berwickshire rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 206,208). The seal of the former bears a long-legged bird and S' Ade filii Davit (ibid., p. 555). William filius Davidi was provost of Aberdeen in 1340 (ER., I, p. 456), and Adam Davyson, merchant and burgess of Edinburgh, had a safe conduct into England in 1360. Robert Davidson or Robert filius David, elected provost of Aberdeen in 1408, was killed at the battle of Harlaw in 1411, John Davison who held a land in Irvine in 1426 (Irvine, I, p. 130) may be the John Davidson, bailie of Arne, in 1430 (Ayr, p. 85). A distribution of cloth of divers colors was made to Walter Davisoun and his men by command of the king in 1429 (ER., IV, p. 510), Who or what this Walter Davisoun was there is nothing in the record to show. Fynlay Dauison leased Petklochery in 1453 (Cupar-Angus, I, p. 129), John Davysone was witness in Linlithgow in 1472 (Sc. Ant., XVII, p. 120), George Davidsone, witness in Peebles 1473 (Peebles, 24), and David Davyson, a native of Dundy (Dundee), had letters of denisation in England in 1484 (Bain, IV, 1498). Colyn Davidsone witnessed a charter by James Scrimgeour, Constable of Dundee, in 1492 (HP., II, p. 194), Thomas Dauyson was elected bailie of Aberdeen, 1509 (Guildry, p. 193), Duncan Dawysoun was a resident in Stirling in 1566 (Saltre, p. 128), and Jok Dauisone was tenant under the Abbey of Kelso in 1567 (Kelso, p. 520). The Davidsons of Roxburghshire seem to have formed a small clan in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The chief family seated at Samieston became extinct in 1670 (Stodart). Thomas Davidson (b. 1840), born in Deer, Aberdeenshire, devoted his life to the study of the language, literature, and philsuphy of Greece and Italy. In common Gaelic speech this name appears as Deibhiosdan. The Davidsons are known as Clann Daidh. Daueson 1550, Dauesoun 1547, Dauiesone 1620, Dauisoun 1513, Dauysone 1490, Daveson 1591, Daviesoune 1653, Davitson 1552, Dawysone 1567.

'son of Davie,' diminutive of David. See Davidson.

(Hebrew) Beloved [Heb, Dávídh] The name, which in the Bible is given to no one except the great King of Israel, is perhaps a shortened form of Dodavahu, 'Beloved of Jehovah,’ or Dodo, ‘Beloved of Him’; but, according to Sayce, was originally Dodo, a title of the Sun-God.— Dict. of Bible, ed. Hastings, i. 560.

The Irish have sometimes used David to represent their Dathi and Diarmaid.

Distinct from MacDavitt

“Beloved” in Hebrew.

(Scottish, Welsh) The Son of David (beloved).

Though of ancient standing in Wales, this Christian name scarcely appears in England before the Conquest. Modified in various forms it has since produced many family names, some of which are among the commonest in use, as Davids, Davidson, Davidge-Davey, Davy, Davie-Davies, Davis, Daviss, Daves, Davison. From Daw, the nickname, come Dawe, Dawes, Daws, Dawson, Dawkes, Dawkins, Dawkinson, and from another form of the nickname, according to Camden, we get Day, Dayes, Dayson, and Dakin.

The son of David, which signifies beloved.

The surname Davis (or Davies) stems from the first name David, usually by way of the nickname Davy which was also the French popular form, much in use after the Norman Conquest. Davis means ‘son of Davy’ or, more formally, ‘son of David’.

The first name David is found in the Bible and is of Hebrew origin. The original meaning of the name was ‘darling’, often used in lullabies or as a term of endearment to a child. Later, the word came to be used to mean ‘friend’.

The popularity of the name David stems from Biblical times, largely as a result of the exploits of King David. Its popularity in the British Isles has been reinforced by the fact that the patron saint of Wales is St David, and two Scottish kings (in the eleventh and thirteenth centuries) bore the name. The Welsh patron saint was Archbishop of Menevia in the sixth century. His popularity accounts for the frequency of David as a Welsh first name, with its attendant nicknames Dai and Taffy. The latter is the colloquial name for a Welshman, used only by outsiders and generally with slightly derogatory connotations-as in the case of Paddy, or Limey, or Yank.

It is thus no surprise to find that the derivative surname Davies is common in Wales. (Traditionally, Davies is the Welsh version, Davis the English.) The name is found most frequently in South Wales, as well as among the farming communities. A recent survey showed that one in twenty Welsh farming families was named Davies.

Though Davies is the most popular form of ‘David’s son’, there are other variations. The most obvious, Davidson, while widespread, is found most frequently in Scotland and the border counties. Other variations include Davison and Davidge. Related names include Davey, Davy and Davitt (usually found in Ireland). These last, strictly speaking, are variations on the original David, also a popular surname in South Wales.

Daw, Daws and Dawson are all medieval short forms of the name Davy which it is thought was then pronounced as though spelled Dawy; while Dawkins is an affectionate pet name for the first name David.

The first name David and the surname Davies (and related names) have been widespread in England from the twelfth century, and in Scotland and Wales since even earlier times. There are references to the first name David and the surname Davy in twelfth-century records, but the first more recognisable references are to Richard Davi of Suffolk and William Davy of Oxford, both in the Hundred Rolls of 1273.

Davis’s have the rare distinction of having a number of ingenious devices named in their honour: a double quadrant, Davis’ Quadrant, invented by John Davis (Davys) (1550— 1605); the Davy lamp, the first safe lamp for miners because it used gauze to separate the flame from potentially explosive gases, invented by Sir Humphry Davy (1778—1829); and the Davis Escape Apparatus, which lets submariners do just that, invented by Sir Robert Henry Davis (1870—1965).

The Davis Cup is the International Lawn Tennis Challenge Trophy and is competed for annually by all tennis-playing countries (rather than by individuals). It was donated in 1900 by Dwight Davis (1879—1945) who won the US doubles championship three years running-in 1899, 1900 and 1901.

There are no Davis-derived towns or cities in the United Kingdom and few elsewhere in the world. Canada has one town called Davis, so do 5 American states. There is a Davis Sea in the Antarctic and a Davis Island in Burma.

With about 343,000 namesakes Davies is the 6th most popular surname in England and Wales, while Davis accounts for another 117,000-in combination making this name the 3rd most popular in the area. (Neither variation is common enough throughout Scotland to be counted separately.) Davies is notably popular in and around Cardiff where an estimated one in about 30 families bears the name. In descending numerical order Liverpool, Birmingham and Coventry are other Davies strongholds, while Davis is more prevalent in Bristol (one in 252 families). Around the world Davies’s and Davis’s are most common in Wellington (one in 220 families), Sydney (one in 283) and Canberra (one in 295). In the United States there are an estimated 1,100,000 Davis’s and 39,000 Davies’s, in combination making this the country’s 7th most popular surname.