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.