Jarvis Family History

English (of Norman origin): from the Old French personal name Gervais(e) itself from ancient Germanic Gervas with gair ‘spear’ as the first element and an uncertain second perhaps a borrowing of Celtic wass- ‘servant vassal’. The Latinized name Gervasius was borne by a Christian saint martyred under the Roman Emperor Domitian who became one of the patrons of Milan.

English: in Yorkshire sometimes a habitational name from Jervaulx in East Witton (North Yorkshire). The place takes its name from the river Ure + Old French val vals ‘valley’.

Americanized form of French Gervais and of its variant Gervaise cognates of 1 above.