Find out how popular the first name Alvan has been for the last 43 years (from 1974 to 2016) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Alvan by gender

Based on the last 43 years of data, Alvan is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2016, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Alvan.

The history of the first name Alvan

The name Alvan has its origins in the Germanic languages, derived from the Old Norse name Alfvine, which was a compound of the elements "alf" (elf) and "vinr" (friend). It is believed to have emerged sometime around the 9th or 10th century in Scandinavia.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Alvan can be traced back to the 12th century, when it appeared in the Landnámabók, a medieval Icelandic book that documents the settlement of Iceland. In this text, Alvan is mentioned as the name of a Norse settler who arrived in Iceland during the late 9th or early 10th century.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Alvan. One of the earliest was Alvan of Auxerre, a French scholar and theologian who lived in the 9th century and served as the abbot of the monastery of Auxerre. Another prominent figure was Alvan Graham, an American educator and founder of the New England Non-Resistance Society, who lived from 1801 to 1888.

In the realm of literature, Alvan was the name of a character in the novel "The Egoist" by George Meredith, published in 1879. The character, Alvan Derrick, was a charismatic but egotistical Polish nobleman who played a central role in the story.

The name Alvan also has a connection to the American military history. Alvan Cullem Gillem, an American soldier and engineer, served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War (1861-1865) and later as the Quartermaster General of the United States Army from 1882 to 1892.

Another notable Alvan was Alvan Wentworth Chapman, an American botanist and educator who lived from 1809 to 1899. He made significant contributions to the field of botany and served as the president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1875.

While the name Alvan has its roots in ancient Germanic languages, it has been used across various cultures and regions throughout history, with individuals bearing this name leaving their mark in fields ranging from academia and literature to military service and science.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Alvan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Alvan, please contact us.

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