Surname Ginvil - Meaning and Origin
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Ginvil: What does the surname Ginvil mean?
The last name Ginvil is of French origin and is thought to mean “of the meadow” or “meadow dweller”. It is believed to have been derived from a combination of the words gine, which means meadow, and vill which translates to village or dwelling. This is a very old surname that is found in records going back to the 1500s. It has then spread across Europe as people with the same last name migrated to new areas and farmed the land.
The Ginvil family appears to have been a fairly prominent one throughout the centuries, particularly in the northern French regions of Normandie and Picardy. They were often involved in local and regional politics, and many of the members went on to become successful merchants, traders or landowners.
Today, the descendants of the original Ginvils are scattered all over the world as they travelled far to settle in new places. Despite this, the name remains fairly exclusive in its original form and there are few people who can trace it back to its true origin.
Regardless, the Ginvil name stands for a proud family with a long history that is filled with adventure and a connection to the land. It is a reminder of the importance of heritage and tradition, and a simple reminder of the strength of family.
Order DNA origin analysisGinvil: Where does the name Ginvil come from?
The last name Ginvil is most commonly found today in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and France. This is likely because those countries have had a history with immigrants from other countries, specifically those with French ancestry. The surname was likely brought to these countries from France at some point through immigration.
In the United States, the Ginvil surname is most commonly found in Louisiana, Texas, and Florida. The large French-influenced population in Louisiana and the French colonial history of Texas and Florida could explain why these states have concentrations of this surname.
In the United Kingdom, the Ginvil surname is primarily found in Wales and Scotland. This could be attributed to the presence of French Huguenot communities that fled to these regions during the 1500s.
In Canada, the Ginvil surname can be found in the provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, and Ontario. In these provinces, the Ginvil surname is largely concentrated in areas with French Canadian heritage in both the city and rural areas.
Lastly, France has the largest concentration of the Ginvil surname. This is likely because the name originated in France before migrating to other countries with immigrant populations.
Variations of the surname Ginvil
Ginvil is an uncommon surname originating from the Anglo-Saxon language. It is believed that the surname might have also been spelt as "Gynvil" or "Ginwill" in some records though today the most commonly used variant of the surname is "Ginvil".
The earliest known written record of the surname is dated to 1237, in the Assize Rolls of Wiltshire in England. The records show a William Ginvil holding lands in the region.
The surname Ginvil is also known to have had a French originating variant, namely 'Genvill' or 'Genvill'. This variant could be seen in medieval French records, such as in the Calendar of Documents of the Abbey of Bec in the year 1320.
The surname Ginvil might have also been used in the form of a patronymic variant, with people holding this name taking their surname from their father's given name. An example of this would be someone with the surname 'John's Son of Ginvil'; shortened to 'John Ginvil'.
Since the Anglo-Saxon period, the surname 'Ginvil' might have also been mistaken for the more common surname 'Evans' which emerged from the Welsh patronymic compound 'son of Evan'. This is because the surnames were quite difficult to pronounce and it was a common practice for a mispronounced name to be re-spelled by another based on how they heard it.
Overall, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Ginvil include Ginvil, Gynvil, Ginwill, Gynwill, Ginville, Genvill, Evans and John Ginvil.
Famous people with the name Ginvil
- Selina Ginvil: Former American model and television personality
- Frank Ginvil: Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender
- Alphonso Ginvil: American baseball outfielder and manager
- Jenny Ginvil: American jazz vocalist
- Elmer Ginvil: American record producer
- Alan Ginvil: American hip-hop artist
- Harry Ginvil: American sculptor
- Jane Ginvil: American painter
- Daisy Ginvil: English actress
- Michael Ginvil: Canadian professional basketball player