Davis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Welsh Davis surname is a patronymic, meaning “son of David.” Ultimately derived from the Hebrew name “David,” meaning “beloved,” the name became a popular given name throughout Medieval Europe due to the biblical King David of Israel. The popularity of the name was further increased in Britain due to it being the name of the Patron Saint of Wales. Little is known about Saint David, but he is thought to have been a 6th century monk and bishop. The name came to be used as a patronymic name by the Brythonic people of Wales. One of the most famous bearers of this personal name in Wales was David ap Gruffydd, the last Prince of North Wales, who was executed in 1276 by King Edward I of England.

Early Origins of the Davis family

The surname Davis was first found in Flintshire (Welsh: Sir y Fflint), a historic county, created after the defeat of the Welsh Kingdom of Gwynedd in 1284, and located in north-east Wales, where the distinguished Davis family held a family seat from very ancient times. 

They were descended from Cynrig Efell, Lord of Eglwysegle, the twin son of Madog ab Maredadd, the great grandson of Bleddyn ap Cynvin, Prince of Powys, head of the honorable and worthy third Royal Tribe of Wales, who was traitorously murdered in 1073 by the men of Ystrad Tywi, after he had governed all of Wales for 13 years. 

Directly descended from this line was John ap Davydd (John Davies of Gwasanau in the county of Flint).

Early History of the Davis family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Davis research.

Davis Spelling Variations

The Welsh have an extremely large amount of spelling variations of their native surnames to their credit. It was up to the priest or the scribe taking the official records to determine how the spoken name was to be made literal. As time progressed, the old Brythonic names of Wales were recorded in English, which was especially problematic since the English language had extreme difficulty recording the highly inflected sounds of Cymraeg. Spelling variationswere, however, also carried out according to an individual’s design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by spelling variations of one’s name. The spelling variations of the name Davis have included Davies, Davis, Divis and others.

Early Notables of the Davis family (pre 1700)

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was John Davis (1550-1605), an English navigator who discovered the Falkland Islands and what is now known as the Davis Strait; James Davis (c. 1575-c. 1623) an English ship captain and author who was part of the expedition of the Virginia Company of Plymouth which established Popham Colony, also called “Northern Virginia”; Francis Davies (1605-1675), a Welsh clergyman, Bishop of Llandaff (1667 to 1675); Edward Davis or Davies (fl. c. 1680-1688) was an English buccaneer active in the Caribbean during the 1680’s; John Davies (1625-1693), a Welsh translator and writer.

Davis World Ranking

In the United States, the name Davis is the 6^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,193,760 people with that name. [1] However, in Canada, the name Davis is ranked the 58^thmost popular surname with an estimated 35,809 people with that name. [2] And in Quebec, Canada, the name Davis is the 863^rd popular surname. [3] Newfoundland, Canada ranks Davis as 60^th with 429 people. [4] Australia ranks Davis as 23^rd with 51,740 people. [5] New Zealand ranks Davis as 21^st with 6,052 people. [6] The United Kingdom ranks Davis as 52^nd with 78,574 people. [7] South Africa ranks Davis as 723^rd with 9,461 people. [8]

 Migration of the Davis family to Ireland

Some of the Davis family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Davis migration to the United States +

During the latter half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the people of Walesjourneyed to North America to find a new life. They made major contributions to the arts, industry and commerce of both Canada and the United States, and added a rich cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Davis: 

Davis Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• James Davis, who arrived in Virginia in 1616 [9]
• John Davis, who landed in Virginia in 1617 [9]
• William Davis, aged 33, who landed in Virginia in 1618 aboard the ship “William and Thomas” [9]
• Mr. Nicholas Davis, aged 13, who arrived in Virginia in 1618 aboard the ship “Mary Gold” [10]
• Mr. Richard Davis, aged 22, who arrived in Virginia in 1619 aboard the “Bona Nova” [10]

Davis Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Faith Davis, who landed in Virginia in 1700 [9]
• Henry Davis, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1701-1703 [9]
• Hen Davis, who landed in Virginia in 1701 [9]
• Edward Davis, who landed in North Carolina in 1701 [9]
• Edward Davis, who arrived in North Carolina in 1701 [9]

Davis Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Hugh Davis, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1802 [9]
• William Davis, William Davis, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1803-1827 [9]
• Hugh Davis, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 [9]
• William Davis, who landed in America in 1805 [9]
• James Davis, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1806 [9]

Davis Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Mr. John T. Davis, (b. 1899), aged 4, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship “Philadelphia” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 10th October 1903 en route to Norway, Michigan, USA [11]
• Mrs. Mary E. Davis, (b. 1876), aged 27, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship “Philadelphia” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 10th October 1903 en route to Norway, Michigan, USA [11]
• Mr. Stephen Davis, (b. 1875), aged 28, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship “Teutonic” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 9th April 1903 en route to Norway, Michigan, USA [11]
• Mr. Nicholas Davis, (b. 1873), aged 32, Cornish carpenter travelling aboard the ship “St Louis” arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Brooklyn, New York, USA [11]
• Mr. Samuel Davis, (b. 1874), aged 31, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship “Lucania” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th July 1905 en route to Bourne, Oregon, USA [11]

 Davis migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Davis Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Charles Davis, who arrived in Newfoundland in 1713 [12]
• Folk Davis, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
• Greenway Davis, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
• James Davis, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
• John Davis, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749

Davis Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Walter R Davis, who landed in Canada in 1831
• Martha Davis, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship “Madawaska” in 1833
• John Davis, aged 20, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship “Edward Reid” in 1833
• James Davis, who landed in Canada in 1833
• Andrew Davis, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship “Highlander” in 1834

Davis Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

• Mrs. Davis, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907
• J B Davis, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

 Davis migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Davis Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

• Mr. Charles Davis, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for life, transported aboard the “Barwell” in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia[13]
• Mr. John Davis, (Dallow), English convict who was convicted in Worcester, Worcestershire, England for life, transported aboard the “Barwell” in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [13]

Davis Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. John Davis, (b. 1770), aged 30, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, Englandfor 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the “Earl Cornwallis” in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [14]
• Mr. John Davis, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Earl Cornwallis” in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [14]
• Mr. John Davis, British Convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Earl Cornwallis” in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [14]
• Miss Maria Davis, (b. 1774), aged 26, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the “Earl Cornwallis” in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [14]
• Mr. James Davis, British convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Calcutta” in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, the settlement was listed as abandoned and most of the convicts transported to Tasmania on the “Queen” in 1804 [15]

 Davis migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: 

Davis Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Charles O Davis, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1831
• Mr. David Davis, Cornish settler travelling from Launceston, UK aboard the ship “Brazil Packet” arriving in Hokianga, North Island, New Zealand in 1836 [16]
• T Davis, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1837
• James Davis, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
• James Davis, who landed in Otakou, Otago, New Zealand in 1840

Davis Settlers in New Zealand in the 20th Century

• Arthur Davis, aged 29, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “S. S. Waimana” in 1926

 Davis migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960’s many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [17]

Davis Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

• Edward Davis, who landed in Barbados in 1671 [9]
• Henery Davis, aged 18, who arrived in Barbados in 1682 [9]

Davis Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

• Anthony Davis, who arrived in Jamaica in 1757 [9]

Contemporary Notables of the name Davis (post 1700) +

• Spencer David Nelson Davis (1939-2020), Welsh musician and founder of the 1960s beat band the Spencer Davis Group
• David Brion Davis (1927-2018), American authority on slavery and abolition in the Western world and is the Sterling Professor of History Emeritus at Yale University, he was awarded the 1967 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction
• Walter Pearl Davis (1954-2023), American professional basketball player
• Natalie Zemon Davis CC (1928-2023), was a Canadian-American historian of the early modern period
• Richard Davis (1930-2023), American jazz bassist from Chicago, Illinois, NEA Jazz Master (2014)
• Angela Yvonne Davis (b. 1944), American political activist, philosopher, academic and author. Professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, founding member of the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism (CCDS). She is the author of over ten books on class, feminism, race, and the US prison system
• Bruce Edward Davis (1956-2022), American professional football offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders and the Houston Oilers (1979-1989)
• Carl Davis CBE (1936-2023), American-born British conductor and composer who wrote music for more than 100 television programmes
• Calvin Davis (1972-2023), American gold and bronze medalist who competed mainly in the 400 meters hurdles
• Colonel Paris Davis (b. 1939), United States Army officer and Green Beret, recipient of the Medal of Honor 3 March 2023 for his actions on 18 July 1965 during the Vietnam War, one of the first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team into combat

The Davis 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: Heb Dhuw heb ddym, Dhuw a digon
Motto Translation: Without God without anything, God is enough.