Davis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The rich and ancient history of the Davis family name dates back to the time when France was immersed in the Dark Ages. This Breton name is derived from the popular given name David, which means beloved. The name was also often used as a nickname for a sergeant. [1]

Early Origins of the Davis family

The surname Davis was first found in Brittany, where this family was recorded in ancient times.

The name was also found with multiple noble families in diverse parts of the western regions of France. A branch formed in Orleans, the Davids of Conflans, who were mentioned three times in the Armorial of 1696, and who received testimony from the military schools. Another branch, the Davids of Perdreauville, in the county of Montfort-l’Amaury, known since 1400, contributed pages to the King and Queen and three ladies of Saint-Cyr.

The Davids of Fief, in the province of Aunis, reaffirmed their title of nobility in 1672. In the Armorial of 1696, there are also two records of the name in the city of La Rochelle, eight in Tours, nineteen in Poitou, fourteen in Normandy, six in the generality of Alençon, and seven in Caen. Many branches of the name Davy were found in Anjou, Brittany, and Normandy. [2]

Jacques David, born in 1631, son of Blaise and Flavie (née Morel), settled in New France in the 17th century. He married Marie Grandin, born in 1646, daughter of Claude and Jeanne (née Tousain), at Château-Richer, Quebec on 29th August 1662. [3]

Early History of the Davis family

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

Davis Spelling Variations

The many different spellings of French surnames can be partially explained by the use of localdialects and by the influence of other languages during the early development of the French language. As a result of these linguistic and cultural influences, the name Davis is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include David, Davy, Davis, Daviaud, Davion, Daviot, Davioud, Davidou, Davin, Davinet, Davinroy, Davet, Davier and many more.

Early Notables of the Davis family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst this name at this time was Gerhard David (c. 1460-1523), Flemish painter; and Ferenc Dávid (Francis David) (c.1510-1579), a Transylvanian Nontrinitarian and Unitarian preacher, the founder of the Unitarian Church of Transylvania. Félicien David was “one of the most prominent of French composers, was born March 8 [App. p.608 “April 13”], 1810, at Cadenet, in the south of France. His father was an accomplished musical amateur, and it is said that Félicien at the mature age of two evinced his musical taste by shouts of applause at his father’s performances on the fiddle.

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. [4] However, in Canada, the name Davis is ranked the 58^thmost popular surname with an estimated 35,809 people with that name. [5] And in Quebec, Canada, the name Davis is the 863^rd popular surname. [6] Newfoundland, Canada ranks Davis as 60^th with 429 people. [7] Australia ranks Davis as 23^rd with 51,740 people. [8] New Zealand ranks Davis as 21^st with 6,052 people. [9] The United Kingdom ranks Davis as 52^nd with 78,574 people. [10] South Africa ranks Davis as 723^rd with 9,461 people. [11]

 Davis migration to the United States +

By 1643 there were only about 300 people in Quebec. Since immigration was slow, early marriage was desperately encouraged amongst the immigrants. The fur trade attracted migrants, both noble and commoner. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported to Louisiana. The French founded Lower Canada, thus becoming one of the two great founding nations of Canada. The distinguished family name Davis has made significant contributions to the culture, arts, sciences and religion of France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Davis were 

Davis Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• James Davis, who arrived in Virginia in 1616 [12]
• John Davis, who landed in Virginia in 1617 [12]
• William Davis, aged 33, who landed in Virginia in 1618 aboard the ship “William and Thomas” [12]
• Mr. Nicholas Davis, aged 13, who arrived in Virginia in 1618 aboard the ship “Mary Gold” [13]
• Mr. Richard Davis, aged 22, who arrived in Virginia in 1619 aboard the “Bona Nova” [13]

Davis Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Faith Davis, who landed in Virginia in 1700 [12]
• Henry Davis, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1701-1703 [12]
• Hen Davis, who landed in Virginia in 1701 [12]
• Edward Davis, who landed in North Carolina in 1701 [12]
• Edward Davis, who arrived in North Carolina in 1701 [12]

Davis Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Hugh Davis, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1802 [12]
• William Davis, William Davis, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1803-1827 [12]
• Hugh Davis, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 [12]
• William Davis, who landed in America in 1805 [12]
• James Davis, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1806 [12]

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 [14]
• 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 [14]
• 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 [14]
• 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 [14]
• 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 [14]

 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 [15]
• 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[16]
• 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 [16]

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 [17]
• 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 [17]
• 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 [17]
• 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 [17]
• 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 [18]

 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 [19]
• 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. [20]

Davis Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

• Edward Davis, who landed in Barbados in 1671 [12]
• Henery Davis, aged 18, who arrived in Barbados in 1682 [12]

Davis Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

• Anthony Davis, who arrived in Jamaica in 1757 [12]

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
• 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
• Arthur Willard “Bill” Davis (1942-2023), American Major League Baseball first baseman from Graceville, Minnesota who played for the Cleveland Indians from 1965 to 1966 and the San Diego Padres in 1969
• Martin David Davis (1928-2023), American mathematician, known for his work on Hilbert’s tenth problem and his Davis–Putnam algorithm.