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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
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
● 1378 Galvano (dat) hanquetvol1 1723
Middle French
● 1392 Gauvain MemBret-II col. 598, Gauvaing ibid. col. 598; 1418 Gauvain HGParis p. 386
Italy
Latin
● 1265x1339 Galvanei (gen) BBC-Berg 280; 1327 Galvagni (gen) Friuli-14thC no. 449
Spain
Catalan
● 1510 Galvany valencia1510 4248
Cite as: S.L. Uckelman. "Gavin". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2015, no. 2. http://dmnes.org/2015/2/name/Gavin.