This unusual and interesting name is of early medieval English origin, and is one of the surnames created from a personal name which was popular in the Middle Ages in both the Middle English form "Gawayne" as well as the Old French "Gauvin" and the Scottish "Gavin". This was the name of the son of King Arthur's sister in the Arthurian romances, one of the knights of the Round Table, and the brother of Galahad and Mordred. The name is thought to be of ancient Welsh origin; in the Welsh Arthurian tales it is found as "Gwalchmai", "Hawk of the plain", but may also derive from "Gwalchgwyn", "White Hawk".
The development of the personal name reflects the variant forms of the surname from this source, and the common substitution of "w" for "g": Wawanus (1208), Gawyne (1279), Gaven (1631), and Gawne (1653). The surname can be found as Gavin, Gaven, Gawen, Gawn(e), Gauv(a)in, and Wawn(e). Among the recordings of the name in Gloucestershire is that of the marriage of Richard Gawne and Joanna Hall at Minchinhampton, on the 17th of June 1584. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Emma Gawyn, which was dated 1379, in the "Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns", during the reign of King Richard 11, known as "Richard of Bordeaux", 1377 - 1399. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
The history of the surname gawen is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of gawen. Research into the possible origins of gawen leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname gawen is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation.
It is common for surnames like gawen to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones. There is a considerable probability that gawen has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where gawen is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname gawen provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.
The historical journey of the surname gawen can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of gawen. The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named gawen are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname gawen, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of gawen developed.
You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname gawen, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames. It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of gawen could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about gawen and send it to us, we will update it on this website.
Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all gawens who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname gawen, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname gawen were recorded by the chroniclers of the time.
It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname gawen. The bibliography collects information related to the surname gawen, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of gawen are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of gawen, and at the same time, of surnames in general.