Origin and History of Jarvis

The Jarvis name is a British boy’s name that was derived from the given name Gervais, which is the French form of Gervasius, which is believed to be a Latinized form of a Germanic name, Gervas. There was a St. Gervasius of Milan. He had been a Christian martyr, and his remains were found during the 4th century. Jarvis is also used a surname. Variations of the name include Gervase, Gervis, Jarvie, Jervis, Jervois and Jervoise

Meaning of the Name

The meaning of Jarvis is believed to be “servant of the spear.” The first syllable, “ger,” means “spear,” while the second syllable is believed to come from the Celtic word “vass,” which means “servant.” Another possible meaning is “one who comes from Jervaulx,” the site of a Cistercian monastery in Northern Yorkshire. Jervaulx, which is pronounced “Jarvis,” is named for the river Ure, while the second syllable, “vaulx” means valley.

Popularity

The popularity of Jarvis is low in England in 2013. In the United States, it was fairly popular during the 1980’s and 1990’s, but declined afterwards. It has, however, shown a slight upturn in popularity in recent years.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and origin of other English boys’ names on our website.