TRAVIS
The surname Travis is a British family name of English origin.
Its roots can be traced to the medieval given name Travers, which itself derives from the Old French verb traverser, meaning “to cross.” The name was originally applied as a nickname to persons who lived near a bridge or other crossing point, or to those who frequently crossed boundaries or travelled. In this sense the surname signifies a person associated with crossing or traversing.
Following the Norman‑French invasion of 1066, the name, together with the associated French nouns travers and traverse, was introduced into England. It was recorded in a number of spellings, including Travers, Traves, Travis and Traviss, all of which have survived in various forms to the present day.
The earliest known instance of the surname appears in the 1172 register of the Gilbertine monastery in Lincoln, where a man named Walter Travers was recorded. This date places the name firmly in the reign of King Henry I (1154‑1189). Subsequent early records include Margareta Travas in the 1433 Gildersome Rolls of Yorkshire and Ann Travis of Burtonwood in Lancashire in 1578.
According to the late Professor Reaney, the term travers was also used by the Bishop of Norwich in 1285 to describe the toll taken at South Elmham in Suffolk for the upkeep of a bridge. This use suggests that the name could also have been given to an individual who collected money at such a crossing point, reinforcing the connection between the name and the act of crossing.
Throughout its history, the surname has remained associated with locations where crossing was required, such as gates, fords or toll points, and has been borne by individuals across the British Isles. The name’s persistence over more than eight centuries attests to its early establishment within English society.
Typical given names associated with the Travis surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
Female
- Angela
- Elizabeth
- Jane
- Joanne
- Julie
- Karen
- Kathleen
- Margaret
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Travis in...
Braille
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Morse
-.-..-...-.....
Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Travis are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Custard Cream.
There are approximately 5,530 people named Travis in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,716th most common surname in Britain. Around 85 in a million people in Britain are named Travis.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Travis
- Nancy Travis - American actress
- Debbie Travis - -Canadian television personality, self-taught interior decorator, and former fashion model
- Kris Travis - Professional wrestler (1983 to 2016)
- Theo Travis - Saxophonist
- Geoff Travis - Businessman
- Lewis Travis - Football player
- Edward Travis - Director of GCHQ (1888 to 1956)
- Simon Travis - Football player
- Don Travis - Football player (1924 to 2002)
- Harry Travis - Football player (1911 to 1)
- Dave Travis - Javelin thrower
- Nicky Travis - Football player
- Aaron Travis - Football player (1890 to 1)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.