Explore the Family Name Avis
The meaning of Avis
1. English (of Norman origin) and French: from the Middle English and Old French female personal name Avice, which may be from ancient Germanic Aveza, but more probably from Latin Avitia (also found in a masculine form, Avitius). In France, this surname is rare. 2. Portuguese and Spanish: habitational name from the little town of Avis (the stress is on the i) in Portalegre district (Portugal). This surname is found in the neighboring Spanish Extremadura. 3. Dutch: variant of Aafjes a metronymic from the female personal name Ave, which is of unclear origin. 4. Dutch: from Latin avis ‘bird’, a reference to the surname Koet, from koet ‘coot’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Avis in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Avis has seen a decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 12,004 in popularity but fell to 13,981 by 2010, marking a decrease of 16.47%. The number of people carrying the name also dropped from 2,388 to 2,156 during this period, signifying a decrease of 9.72%. Consequently, for every 100,000 people, there were fewer Avis's in 2010 (0.73) as compared to 2000 (0.89), showing a drop of 17.98% in proportion.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,004 | #13,981 | -16.47% |
| Count | 2,388 | 2,156 | -9.72% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.89 | 0.73 | -17.98% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Avis
When exploring the ethnic identity linked with the surname Avis, we see some changes according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. While the majority of individuals with this name identify as White (rising from 81.99% in 2000 to 85.67% in 2010), the representation from other ethnicities shows some fluctuation. The percentage of Avis's identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander nearly doubled from 1.05% in 2000 to 2.04% in 2010. Those recognizing themselves as of two or more races also saw an increase, moving from 1.59% to 1.95%. However, the representation of Hispanic, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native Avis's showed a decrease over the decade. Specifically, the proportion of Blacks reduced significantly from 10.51% to 6.45%, while Hispanics decreased by 20.5%, and American Indian and Alaskan Natives dipped by 11.9%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 81.99% | 85.67% | 4.49% |
| Black | 10.51% | 6.45% | -38.63% |
| Hispanic | 4.44% | 3.53% | -20.5% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.05% | 2.04% | 94.29% |
| Two or More Races | 1.59% | 1.95% | 22.64% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.42% | 0.37% | -11.9% |