Find out how popular the last name Avis is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Avis.

Avis, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Avis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Avis in America

Avis is the 13981st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Avis surname appeared 2,156 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Avis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Avis to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Avis

The surname Avis has its roots in England and France, originating in the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "avis," meaning "opinion" or "advice." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname given to someone known for their wisdom or counsel.

In England, the name can be traced back to the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. Here, the name appears as "Avis" and "Avis de Burgo," indicating its presence in various regions of the country.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Roger Avis, a landowner from Worcestershire mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of 1190. Another notable figure was John Avis, a prominent merchant from London who lived in the 14th century and was involved in the wool trade.

The surname Avis has also been associated with various place names in England, including Avishayes in Devon and Avisford in Sussex. These locations likely took their names from early settlers bearing the Avis surname.

In France, the surname Avis can be traced back to the 13th century, with variations such as "Avy" and "Avice" being found in historical records. One notable bearer of the name was Jean Avis, a French soldier who fought alongside Joan of Arc during the Hundred Years' War in the 15th century.

Other notable individuals with the surname Avis include:

1. Robert Avis (1491-1558), an English politician and member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Mary I.
2. William Avis (1675-1759), a prominent English clockmaker known for his innovative timepiece designs.
3. Mary Avis (1809-1891), a British author and poet, known for her work "The Cottage Girl" published in 1839.
4. John Avis (1842-1921), a Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
5. Ernest Avis (1884-1953), a British athlete who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, winning a silver medal in the tug-of-war event.

While the surname Avis may have evolved over time and across different regions, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period, reflecting its long-standing presence in both England and France.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Avis

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Avis.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Avis was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Avis has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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