Surname Jervise - Meaning and Origin

Jervise: What does the surname Jervise mean?

The last name Jervise is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from an old English personal name. The name was likely formed from the words "gifa" and "rīce" which mean gift and realm, respectively. The name would have signified a person who was a giver of realm or a ruler of an area.

The Jervise surname can be found throughout English and Scottish family history records. In England, the first recorded spelled version of the surname is believed to be that of John Gervas (1230). While there are limited records of the surname from the medieval time period, the name is most commonly associated with Scotland during the 16th and 17th centuries.

The Jervise surname seems to have been quite popular in Scotland, with the largest concentration of name holders being found in East Lothian and Berwickshire. The name can also be found in significant numbers in the U.S. and Canada, with the highest concentrations in Missouri, Iowa, and California.

Overall, the Jervise surname is a testament to a unique part of family history, as it reveals the descent of a family from an ancient form of the English language. The name's roots can be traced back to medieval times when the shared surname served as an endorsement of one's social standing in the community.

Jervise: Where does the name Jervise come from?

The last name Jervise is most commonly found in the United Kingdom today. It likely originated with someone named Jervise, a name of ancient Viking origin that means 'swift speared man'. It is most commonly found in the counties of Lancashire, where it is the 67th most common last name, and also in Derbyshire, Yorkshire, London, Essex, and Huntingdonshire. It has also spread to other countries, however sparsely, including Canada, the United States, France, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

The highest concentrations of people with this surname are all found within the United Kingdom. In 2015, 95% of records containing the name Jervise were located in England, 2.4% in Scotland, and .2% in Wales. Records also suggest that the name first appeared in Scotland, however, there are only a few isolated instances of it settling there to form a clan.

A majority of Jervise families are still found within the UK, particularly in Lancashire and Derbyshire. There is also a Jervise side of the family that lives in the United States today. As the number of people with this surname continues to grow, it is likely that it will become increasingly common all over the world.

Variations of the surname Jervise

The surname Jervise is a patronymic name derived from the Medieval English name Jarvis which in turn has roots in the ancient Germanic name Gervas. Spellings of this surname can vary, with some of the more common variants including Jervis, Jerviss, and Jurvis. In cases where the letter “J” is substituted for its original “G” addition surnames such as Garvis, Garviss, and Garvise are commonplace.

The name is believed to have originated in the 10th century when the Norman-French first entered England and began to impose a feudal social structure across the British Isles. As the name was passed through subsequent generations over the centuries, countless variants have been created.

In Scotland, many of those bearing this surname have seen variations of the name due to the harsh and highly-accented Gaelic dialect of the country. In many cases, the “J” has been dropped in favor of the sound of the letter “G” which is closer to the original Germanic spelling. Therefore, many spellings involving this letter can be found, including the Scottish spelling variants Garvice and Garvey.

In America, where a large number of people from different backgrounds have settled, this surname is now seen rendered as Jarvice, Jarvess, Jervey and even Jervice; All these spellings, however, are believed to have originated from the same original name.

In short, variants of the original name widely range, from Jarvise and Jervice to Jurvise and Jerviss, all of which have the same origin.

Famous people with the name Jervise

• Anthony Jervise: A Jamaican professional footballer who played for the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.
• Mike Jervise: Former English international footballer who played for Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City, Liverpool and Southampton.
• Joseph Jervise: A British geologist who contributed significantly to the development of geological science in Britain.
• David Jervise: A Norwegian architect who designed several noteworthy buildings in the 19th and 20th centuries.
• Thomas Jervise: An American musician, composer, and vocalist from Kentucky.
• John Jervise: A British publisher of medical, scientific and general texts in the 19th century.
• Franklin Jervise: An American theologian and Christian educator who contributed to the development of Sunday school curriculum.
• Charlotte Jervise: A 19th-century English entomologist and naturalist.
• William Jervise: A British naval officer and colonial administrator who served on a number of Royal Navy ships during his career.
• Arthur Jervise: A Scottish entomologist who wrote several books and papers on entomology.

Other surnames

Jervis