DAVIS
DAY-vis
A surname-turned-given name originally meaning “son of David.”
Meaning
Davis is best understood as an English/Welsh patronymic built from David, meaning “son of David.” In the excerpted 19th-century sources, it is treated as a surname that grew out of Welsh forms like ap Devi, with Davy, Davis, and Davies as related developments. As a given name, it keeps the strong biblical association of David while functioning in a modern surname-style way.
Origin
HebrewWelshEnglishmasculine
Fun fact
One excerpt notes that Davis and Davies arose from Welsh usage, alongside the contraction Taffy.
Confidence: mixed. Sources: History of Christian Names, Curiosities of Puritan Nomenclature.