Gavin Surname

14,229th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 39,145 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
United States
Highest density in:
Ireland

Gavin Surname Definition:

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Gawen." Sir Gawaine was the hero of the battle with the giant Rhyence: 'That Gawain with his olde eurtesie.' Chaucer, The Squire's Tale.

Miss Yonge says, 'His name, whether as Gawain or Gavin, was popular in England and Scotland in the Middle Ages' (v.

Read More About This Surname

Gavin Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States18,5371:19,5532,453
England4,5541:12,2351,800
Ireland3,3951:1,387282
Australia2,9311:9,2101,372
Canada1,4301:25,7663,462
Ecuador1,1451:13,8922,152
Scotland1,0631:5,037844
Spain9961:46,9404,429
New Zealand6691:6,7691,135
Philippines6571:154,09225,585
Switzerland4701:17,4742,874
France4521:146,95322,745
South Africa2991:181,19619,872
Jamaica2831:10,1411,087
India2741:2,799,50986,005
Italy2371:258,04534,302
Northern Ireland2101:8,7861,442
Russia1981:727,89461,314
Brazil1321:1,621,77553,533
Malawi1311:130,68014,293
Wales1161:26,6772,762
New Caledonia1141:2,423265
China751:18,230,9541,039
Thailand601:1,177,306172,517
Dominican Republic541:193,2027,170
Papua New Guinea531:153,84421,244
Sweden521:189,36113,089
Germany431:1,872,220105,027
Malaysia421:702,24333,141
Belarus411:231,73328,176
Singapore341:161,9916,884
Argentina301:1,424,78080,162
Malta301:14,342837
United Arab Emirates301:305,40920,323
Norway221:233,74025,571
Luxembourg211:27,6454,917
Venezuela191:1,589,68820,788
Zimbabwe171:908,13259,260
Netherlands161:1,055,44866,951
Chile151:1,174,43221,998
Nigeria151:11,809,517219,567
Israel121:713,13647,700
Paraguay111:657,8867,708
Serbia101:714,49524,752
Sri Lanka91:2,312,0629,186
Uzbekistan91:3,436,57132,268
Belgium81:1,437,08092,692
Indonesia81:16,531,149488,268
Kyrgyzstan81:746,58248,952
Taiwan81:2,930,59317,989
Isle of Man71:12,2602,387
Jersey71:14,1722,872
Mexico61:20,687,70153,861
Cuba51:2,304,5438,951
Denmark41:1,411,17960,800
Hong Kong41:1,833,8716,220
Poland41:9,502,187181,606
Seychelles41:23,0981,012
Uganda41:9,759,820144,676
Czechia31:3,544,490144,714
Kenya31:15,393,30077,493
South Korea31:17,080,0852,793
Vietnam31:30,882,0184,101
Cyprus21:442,4389,493
Lebanon21:2,818,54225,087
Lithuania21:1,517,29435,813
Slovakia21:2,668,225118,680
Afghanistan11:32,153,18360,828
Andorra11:83,8382,381
Antigua and Barbuda11:99,1712,137
Austria11:8,515,435118,036
Bahrain11:1,348,60810,432
Barbados11:287,4482,772
Chad11:13,592,19913,092
Colombia11:47,774,07244,230
Costa Rica11:4,780,06913,345
Estonia11:1,321,80440,178
Faroe Islands11:48,9982,049
French Polynesia11:280,8057,211
Georgia11:3,745,54547,852
Ghana11:27,020,69223,742
Greece11:11,079,790145,225
Iceland11:380,09011,096
Iran11:76,782,524277,718
Ivory Coast11:23,071,23276,679
Japan11:127,844,29373,547
Kuwait11:3,800,69427,187
Macau11:601,6301,582
Mauritius11:1,293,41716,552
Montenegro11:639,5659,092
Montserrat11:4,947471
Namibia11:2,409,40119,676
Nicaragua11:6,021,0908,768
Panama11:3,912,25817,195
Peru11:31,784,12364,452
Puerto Rico11:3,550,1399,109
Qatar11:2,357,99976,403
Saint Martin11:35,156229
Saudi Arabia11:30,855,81763,028
Sudan11:37,510,19514,259
Trinidad and Tobago11:1,363,97522,013
Vanuatu11:263,2762,086
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland1,9931:2,223420
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
England8821:27,6363,755
Scotland5981:6,260905
Wales101:156,8426,008
Jersey51:10,3761,795
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States3,0821:16,2942,071

The alternate forms: Gavín (28) & Gaviñ (1) are calculated separately.

Gavin (171,723) may also be a first name.

Gavin Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Gawen." Sir Gawaine was the hero of the battle with the giant Rhyence: 'That Gawain with his olde eurtesie.' Chaucer, The Squire's Tale.

Miss Yonge says, 'His name, whether as Gawain or Gavin, was popular in England and Scotland in the Middle Ages' (v. History Christian Names, ii. 138-9). In North Lancashire Gawen was still a familiar font-name in the 17th century.

Goselena fil. Gawyne, Cambridgeshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Peter Gowyn, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Emma Gawyn, 1379: ibid.

1530-1. Gawin Carew and Anne Shelston: Marriage Lic. (London).

1609-10. — William Gawin: St. Dionis Backchurch (London).

Gaven Richardson, 1631: Raine's History and Antiquities of North Durham.

1653. Baptised — Gawne Gilpin: Reg. Ulverston Ch.

Gawen Lowther, of Harthwaite Bank. 1669: Lancashire Wills at Richmond.

1680-1. Buried — An, wife of Gawen Stephenson: ibid.

1687. Baptised — Christopher, son of Gawen Stephenson: ibid.

1706. Baptised — Susanna Maria, d. John Gawin: St. James, Clerkenwell.

1776. Married — Thomas Colly and Catherine Gaven: St. George, Hanover Square.

A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (1896) by Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley

Alexander Gavin, indweller in Brechin, 1647, and seven more of the name in neighborhood (Brechin). James Gavine, brewer in Potterrow, Edinburgh, 1669 (Edin. App.). John Gavin in Chastletoune, 1682 (Invercauld, p. 264). Gavin was a favorite forename throughout Strathclyde in past times. It is the Scots form of English Gawayne, in French Gauvain, from Geoffrey of Monmouth's Walganus. In the Welsh Arthurian romances it appears as Gwalchmei, the name of the son of Arthur's sister (Rhys, Arthurian legend, p. 13). "This ancient British name, Gwalchmai, which signifies Hawk of Battle, is in the French Romances changed into the not very similar form of Gawain, having first been Liatinized into Walganus and Walweyn" (Mabinogion, ed. Williams, p. 382). Pokorny (Die Ursprung der Arthur-Sage) renders the name 'Falcon of May.' Gavin or Gavine was also a common surname among the gypsies of the Border.

The Surnames of Scotland (1946) by George Fraser Black (1866-1948)

(Celtic) 1 = Gawayn or Gawain, apparently f. the Latinized form—Walwyn-us— of the Welsh Gwalchmai [cp. Welsh gwalch, a hawk; and mai, a field] ...kynge Arthur rode vnto Carlyon, and thyder cam to hym kyng Lots wyf of Orkeney...rychely bisene with her four sones Gawayn, Gaherys, Agrauaynes, and Gareth.—Malory’s Morte d'Arthur, 1. xix.

2 metonymic lor Calf-herd; Dolt [Gaelic gamhainn (mh=v), a calf, stirk, stupid fellow]

Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

(Scottish, Irish) Descendant of Gavin (hawk of battle); grandson of Gabhadhan (diminutive of Gabhadh, want or danger).

Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

Gavin Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Gavin Come From? nationality or country of origin

Gavin (Arabic: جافين, Hindi: गाविन्द, Marathi: गावीन, Russian: Гавин) is found in The United States more than any other country or territory. It can be rendered as: Gavín or Gaviñ. Click here for other possible spellings of Gavin.

How Common Is The Last Name Gavin? popularity and diffusion

The surname is the 14,229th most numerous last name globally, borne by approximately 1 in 186,168 people. The last name Gavin is primarily found in The Americas, where 53 percent of Gavin reside; 48 percent reside in North America and 48 percent reside in Anglo-North America. It is also the 6,113th most frequently held first name globally It is held by 171,723 people.

Gavin is most commonly used in The United States, where it is held by 18,537 people, or 1 in 19,553. In The United States Gavin is mostly concentrated in: New York, where 9 percent are found, Illinois, where 8 percent are found and California, where 7 percent are found. Apart from The United States Gavin occurs in 101 countries. It is also common in England, where 12 percent are found and Ireland, where 9 percent are found.

Gavin Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The occurrence of Gavin has changed over time. In The United States the number of people bearing the Gavin surname grew 601 percent between 1880 and 2014; in England it grew 516 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Ireland it grew 170 percent between 1901 and 2014; in Scotland it grew 178 percent between 1881 and 2014 and in Wales it grew 1,160 percent between 1881 and 2014.

Gavin Last Name Statistics demography

The religious adherence of those holding the surname is principally Catholic (99%) in Ireland and Orthodox (82%) in Russia.

In The United States those bearing the Gavin last name are 3.89% more likely to be registered with the Republican Party than the national average, with 50.66% registered with the party.

The amount Gavin earn in different countries varies greatly. In Norway they earn 26.74% less than the national average, earning 253,532 kr per year; in South Africa they earn 148.25% more than the national average, earning R 589,932 per year; in United States they earn 4.8% more than the national average, earning $45,219 USD per year and in Canada they earn 2.96% less than the national average, earning $48,214 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
Gavín9328/
Gaviñ931/
Gauvin9116,430/
Gavina915,110/
Gavine91251/
Gavion91140/
Gavind9190/
Ghavin9157/
Gaivin9150/
Gavint9130/
Gayvin919/
Gavain913/
Gavein912/
Gavoin912/
Gavien911/
Gaving911/
Gavitn911/
Gahvin911/
Gajvin911/
Gasvin911/
Ngavin911/
Gavhin910/
Gavinn910/
Avin891,533/
Gauvain832,257/
Gauvind8325/
Gauvine837/
Gavhine835/
Gauving834/
Gaavind831/
Gaivain831/
Gavinne831/
Gavitin831/
Gauvein831/
Gauvoin831/
Ghavitn831/
Ghayvin831/
Gavisin830/
Avina809,165/
Gaven803,468/
Govin802,768/
Havin80753/
Auvin80543/
Avion80438/
Avine80249/
Gevin80152/
Asvin8093/
Gavim8057/
Aving8026/
Avgin8018/
Aivin8017/
Avijn8017/
Avuin8010/
Avien8010/
Avain809/
Gavén808/
Avind807/
Avint806/
Ayvin806/
Gavyn804/
Ajvin803/
Atvin803/
Eavin802/
Avoin802/
Avitn801/
Avein801/
Avhin801/
Gavinova7721/
Gavinová774/
Govind7340,136/
Govina733,349/
Heavin731,023/
Avoine731,023/
Gabuin73688/
Gabain73675/
Avesin73244/
Gavend73172/
Gouvin73141/
Gabine73133/
Ashvin73129/
Having73103/
Avitin73100/
Govine7389/
Gawain7389/
Avigne7388/
Govain7375/
Gauven7370/
Gavene7360/
Gobain7351/
Havind7346/
Avienn7335/
Aveine7334/
Gewain7332/
Goving7332/
Ghavim7327/
Gavenc7323/
Haavin7317/
Avionn7312/
Avetin7311/
Gevoin739/
Aaving738/
Gaveen735/
Havink735/
Auvine735/
Ayvina734/
Aavind734/
Gowain734/
Ghaven734/
Gavaim734/
Hauvin733/
Gauvim733/
Asving733/
Gevinn732/
Auvoin732/
Havein732/
Aasvin732/
Auvina732/
Haivin732/
Avaine732/
Achvin732/
Gosvin732/
Havihn731/
Havine731/
Havisn731/
Eavina731/
Gayven731/
Gotvin731/
Govinn731/
Aivain731/
Aihvin731/
Auvien731/
Avainn731/
Gaiven731/
Avingh731/
Havien731/
Hasvin731/
Gawien731/
Aivina731/
Aavint731/
Avisen731/
Avisin731/
Auvion731/
Aivine731/
Ngaven731/
Aivien731/
Gavjnh731/
Havinh731/
Havhin730/
Gavynn730/
Gavent730/
Govgin730/
Gaboin730/
Eaving730/
Aven673,518/
Ovin67712/
Auvigne67382/
Gouvion67344/
Avinova67248/
Avim67157/
Govindh67118/
Haavind67103/
Avén6788/
Gauwain6773/
Gauvent6765/
Ngabuin6748/
Gabaine6744/
Gaboine6739/
Avyn6736/
Avoinne6735/
Govinnd6731/
Avesing6726/
Hauvion6726/
Ghabuin6723/
Gonpain6713/
Gouvind678/
Ashvein678/
Gabitin678/
Gouvine677/
Havisin677/
Gouvina676/
Gaubain675/
Aashvin674/
Govaind674/
Avín674/
Ggovind672/
Gavhene672/
Gabisen672/
Avissin672/
Gawoine672/
Ghabain672/
Ghabine672/
Hauvien671/
Heaving671/
Hasvain671/
D'Avion671/
Gabhine671/
Gabhing671/
Gavenck671/
Ghovind671/
Gouvoin671/
Authvin671/
Avechin671/
Hauvine671/
Havoine671/
Ngawein671/
Hashvin671/
Gaweine671/
Gouvain671/
Goojvin671/
Govinne671/
Gouvein671/
Ghavuim671/
Gabetin671/
Gabiten671/
Gabuine671/
Avittin671/
Avèn671/
Avichen671/
Ghobain671/
Havingq671/
Avjn671/
Goivina671/
Gooving671/
Gawaine670/
Gevienn670/
Govitin670/
Havicen670/
Gahaven670/
Havesin670/
Havinck670/
Gaswein670/
Heavinn670/
Eaveing670/

Gavin Name Transliterations

TransliterationICU LatinPercentage of Incidence
Gavin in the Marathi language
गावीनgavina62.41
गािवनgaivana26.48
गवीनgavina5.44
गावीतgavita1.89
गेवीनgevina0.71
गॅवीनgevina0.71
गावीणgavina0.47
अलीनalina0.24
Gavin in the Hindi language
गाविन्दgavinda46.15
गाविनgavina15.38
गैविनgaivina7.69
गवीनgavina7.69
गेविनgevina7.69
गविनgavina7.69
गाविन्दरामgavindarama7.69
Gavin in the Russian language
Гавинgavin-
Gavin in the Arabic language
جافينjafyn-
غافنghafn-

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Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Gavin
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis