Evans (surname)
Encyclopedia
Evans is a family name
of Welsh
, and possibly Cornish
, origin. Within the United Kingdom
it is the 8th most common surname, being most common in the city of Swansea
, Wales
. Within the United States
, it is ranked as the 48th-most common surname.
origin. In its anglicised form the name means "son of Evan". Regarding its Welsh roots, it is a derivative of the name Ifan, a cognate
of John
. In the Welsh language
, the f produces the v sound; Ifan (Ivan) became Evan.
It is somewhat of a misconception that Evans is a patronymic
name. The name does refer to Evan-S, meaning son of John; however, the historic context is that many Welsh were relative latecomers to Christianity
, and around the 3rd century A.D. a huge evangelical conversion began. Converted followers took the name "Son of John (the Baptist)", in reference to John the Baptist as the baptiser of Jesus Christ and a symbolic cornerstone of Christian conversion. It is possible that, later on, some took it as meaning the son of their own father called Evan (John), but the practice of religious forenames being converted into surnames by the addition of "s" or "son" (Jackson, Johnson etc.) does not account for the huge incidence of this name in south Wales
.
In the Welsh language the patronymic "ab Evan" resulted in the anglicized surname "Bevan", which is also common in Wales.
An alternative view: Evans is the Latin
ized form of Owain, viz. Yvainne or Yvain. There is no record of the name pre 14th century.
Family name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
of Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, and possibly Cornish
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
, origin. Within the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
it is the 8th most common surname, being most common in the city of Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. Within the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, it is ranked as the 48th-most common surname.
Origin
Evans is of WelshWales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
origin. In its anglicised form the name means "son of Evan". Regarding its Welsh roots, it is a derivative of the name Ifan, a cognate
Cognate
In linguistics, cognates are words that have a common etymological origin. This learned term derives from the Latin cognatus . Cognates within the same language are called doublets. Strictly speaking, loanwords from another language are usually not meant by the term, e.g...
of John
John (name)
John is a masculine given name in the English language. The name is derived from the Latin Ioannes, Iohannes, which is in turn a form of the Greek , Iōánnēs. This Greek name is a form of the Hebrew name , , which means "God is generous"...
. In the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
, the f produces the v sound; Ifan (Ivan) became Evan.
It is somewhat of a misconception that Evans is a patronymic
Patronymic
A patronym, or patronymic, is a component of a personal name based on the name of one's father, grandfather or an even earlier male ancestor. A component of a name based on the name of one's mother or a female ancestor is a matronymic. Each is a means of conveying lineage.In many areas patronyms...
name. The name does refer to Evan-S, meaning son of John; however, the historic context is that many Welsh were relative latecomers to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, and around the 3rd century A.D. a huge evangelical conversion began. Converted followers took the name "Son of John (the Baptist)", in reference to John the Baptist as the baptiser of Jesus Christ and a symbolic cornerstone of Christian conversion. It is possible that, later on, some took it as meaning the son of their own father called Evan (John), but the practice of religious forenames being converted into surnames by the addition of "s" or "son" (Jackson, Johnson etc.) does not account for the huge incidence of this name in south Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
In the Welsh language the patronymic "ab Evan" resulted in the anglicized surname "Bevan", which is also common in Wales.
An alternative view: Evans is the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
ized form of Owain, viz. Yvainne or Yvain. There is no record of the name pre 14th century.