Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources

Gavin m. Of disputed origin. Perhaps Old Welsh gwalch 'hawk' + Old Welsh gwyn 'white'.

The name of an Arthurian character, and nephew of King Arthur, known as Gwalchmei in Old Welsh, Gauvain in Old French, and Gawen in Middle English.

England
Latin
1555 Gawyn (nom) StMartF p. 58
Early Modern English
1553 Gawyn StNick-Sf p. 2; 1573 Gawen OrpingtonKe p. 4; 1578 Gawen ibid. p. 5; 1581 Gawen ibid. p. 6; 1585 Gawen ibid. p. 7; 1595 Gawen DEmar-vol2 p. 32
France
Latin
1164 Galweni (gen) clairvaux-12thc 124; 1332 Galvani (gen) ChronMaillezais p. 165; 1378 Galvano (dat) hanquetvol1 1723
Middle French
1364/5 Gauvain ActsCharlesV no. 191; 1366 Gauvain ibid. no. 354; 1392 Gauvain MemBret-II col. 598, Gauvaing ibid. col. 598; 1415[1469x1471] Gauvain Waurin p. 227; 1418 Gauvain DdB1418 p. 212, HGParis p. 386
Germany
Latin
1173 Walwanus (nom) UrkMeck1 no. II
Italy
Latin
1265x1339 Galvanei (gen) BBC-Berg 280, Galvani (gen) ibid. 808; 1327 Galvagni (gen) Friuli-14thC no. 449
Scotland
Latin
1426 Gawano (dat) RMSRS-2 64; 1506 gawinum (acc) RegDunf 497
Scots
1506 gawan RegDunf 497
Spain
Catalan
1510 Galvany valencia1510 4248
Cite as: A. Brown, S.L. Uckelman. "Gavin". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2023, no. 1. http://dmnes.org/2023/1/name/Gavin.