Find out how popular the first name Jarvis has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Jarvis by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Jarvis is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Jarvis being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 91 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Jarvis.

The history of the first name Jarvis

The name Jarvis is of English origin, believed to have derived from the French name Gervais or Gervase, which itself originated from the Germanic name Gervas. The name can be traced back to the Middle Ages and is thought to have been introduced to England by the Normans after the conquest in 1066.

The name Jarvis is a diminutive form of the Old French name Gerveis, which means "brave spear" or "spear bearer." It is derived from the Germanic elements "ger," meaning spear, and "wais," meaning brave or strong. This name likely originated as a descriptive name for a skilled warrior or soldier.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jarvis can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey of land and landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Gervaise," indicating its early presence in England after the Norman conquest.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Jarvis. One of the earliest was Jarvis Matcham (c. 1565-1636), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Aldborough, East Yorkshire, during the reign of King James I.

Another noteworthy figure was Jarvis Handlen (c. 1710-1776), an American pioneer and early settler in Virginia. He played a significant role in the colonization of the Shenandoah Valley and was a prominent figure in the region's early history.

In the world of literature, Jarvis Lorry is a fictional character in Charles Dickens' novel "A Tale of Two Cities," published in 1859. He is a banker and one of the main protagonists in the story.

Jarvis Cocker (born 1963) is a contemporary English musician, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the band Pulp. He has had a successful career in the music industry and is widely recognized for his distinctive vocals and songwriting.

Lastly, Jarvis Trahair (1839-1924) was an Australian politician and businessman. He served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and played a crucial role in the development of the coal mining industry in the region.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Jarvis, highlighting its longevity and diverse cultural presence across various fields and eras.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!