Find out how popular the first name Deville has been for the last 19 years (from 1977 to 1995) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Deville by gender

Based on the last 19 years of data, Deville is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 1995, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Deville.

The history of the first name Deville

The name Deville has its origins in Old French, derived from the words "de" meaning "of" and "ville" meaning "town" or "city". It was originally a locative surname given to someone who hailed from a specific town or city. The name likely emerged during the Middle Ages in France, a time when surnames were becoming more widespread and often derived from one's place of origin or occupation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Deville can be found in the 13th century, when a nobleman named Geoffroy Deville was mentioned in a French chronicle. He was a knight who participated in the Seventh Crusade, led by King Louis IX of France in 1248.

In the 16th century, a French explorer named Samuel de Champlain, born in 1567, was given the nickname "Le Sieur de Ville" due to his efforts in establishing settlements in what is now Quebec, Canada. This nickname was likely a reference to his role in founding new towns and villages in the New World.

During the 17th century, a French playwright and actor named André Deville, born in 1635, gained recognition for his comedic works and performances. He was a member of the famous Comédie-Française theater company in Paris and is considered one of the pioneers of French theater.

In the 19th century, a notable figure with the name Deville was the French chemist and mineralogist Henri Étienne Sainte-Claire Deville, born in 1818. He made significant contributions to the study of metallurgy and high-temperature chemistry, including the discovery of the process for producing aluminum on an industrial scale.

Another prominent individual with the name Deville was the American architect William Deville, born in 1833. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in New York City, including the historic Equitable Life Assurance Building, which was one of the first skyscrapers in the city when it was completed in 1870.

While the name Deville has its roots in France, it has since been adopted and used in various other cultures and regions around the world. However, its origins can be traced back to the Old French language and the practice of using locative surnames during the Middle Ages.

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 Deville was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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