UK surname
A surname derived from the Latin word "divisus", meaning divided or divided in two.
In the 1881 census there were 51 people recorded with the Devis surname, ranking it #26,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 63, ranked #34,163, down from #26,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tipton otherwise Tibington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Devis is 313 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.5%.
1881 census count
51
Ranked #26,428
Modern count
63
2016, ranked #34,163
Peak year
1861
313 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Devis surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Devis surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 146 | #13,157 |
| 1861 | historical | 313 | #8,103 |
| 1881 | historical | 51 | #26,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 203 | #14,754 |
| 1901 | historical | 124 | #20,163 |
| 1911 | historical | 135 | #19,058 |
| 1997 | modern | 79 | #29,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 81 | #29,849 |
| 1999 | modern | 74 | #30,759 |
| 2000 | modern | 74 | #30,785 |
| 2001 | modern | 72 | #30,813 |
| 2002 | modern | 62 | #32,214 |
| 2003 | modern | 55 | #32,895 |
| 2004 | modern | 57 | #32,968 |
| 2005 | modern | 55 | #33,349 |
| 2006 | modern | 54 | #33,780 |
| 2007 | modern | 48 | #34,488 |
| 2008 | modern | 47 | #34,699 |
| 2009 | modern | 51 | #34,612 |
| 2010 | modern | 53 | #34,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 55 | #34,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 60 | #34,287 |
| 2013 | modern | 54 | #34,666 |
| 2014 | modern | 59 | #34,459 |
| 2015 | modern | 60 | #34,361 |
| 2016 | modern | 63 | #34,163 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tipton otherwise Tibington, London parishes, Doddington and Marlborough St Mary the Virgin. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Tipton otherwise Tibington | Staffordshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Doddington | Cambridgeshire |
| 5 | Marlborough St Mary the Virgin | Wiltshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Devis surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Devis, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Devis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Devis household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Devis is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Devis is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Devis, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname DEVIS is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the Midlands region, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "dæfes," which means "deaf" or "hard of hearing." The name likely referred to someone who was deaf or had hearing difficulties.
In the early 13th century, the name appeared in various records as "Deavis" and "Deavys," reflecting the regional dialects and spelling variations common in that era. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a certain Richard Deavis is mentioned as a landholder in Shropshire.
During the 14th century, the surname evolved into its modern spelling, "DEVIS." This variation can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a John DEVIS is listed as a taxpayer in the village of Knaresborough.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname DEVIS. One such person was William DEVIS (1564-1626), an English clergyman and writer who served as the rector of Boxted in Essex. He is known for his work titled "The Calling of the Jevves," published in 1621.
Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas DEVIS (1677-1767), a British naval officer and Member of Parliament. He fought in several battles during the War of the Spanish Succession and later represented the borough of Maldon in the House of Commons.
In the 19th century, John DEVIS (1783-1846) gained recognition as a landscape painter and etcher, known for his depictions of English countryside scenes. His works are held in collections at the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The name DEVIS also has connections to place names, such as Devisdale, a small village in the East Riding of Yorkshire. This name likely originated from the combination of the surname DEVIS and the Old English word "dæl," meaning "valley."
It is worth noting that the name DEVIS was not solely confined to England. Records show instances of individuals bearing this surname in other parts of the British Isles, such as Scotland and Ireland, suggesting migration patterns or variations in spelling over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Devis surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 9 Devis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.79x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 9 | 3.79x |
| Warwickshire | 8 | 6.51x |
| Cambridgeshire | 7 | 22.67x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 1.24x |
| Caernarfonshire | 5 | 25.36x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 2.43x |
| Wiltshire | 4 | 9.28x |
| Sussex | 3 | 3.65x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 3.14x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.21x |
| Morayshire | 1 | 13.19x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 9 Devis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.89x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Camberwell | 9 | 28.89x |
| March | 7 | 679.61x |
| Llanbeblig | 5 | 250.00x |
| Aston | 4 | 11.81x |
| Leamington Priors | 4 | 132.01x |
| Marlborough St Peter St | 4 | 1818.18x |
| Norton In Malton | 4 | 677.97x |
| Tipton | 4 | 79.37x |
| Brighton | 3 | 18.08x |
| Kings Norton | 2 | 35.03x |
| Elgin | 1 | 68.03x |
| Holbeck | 1 | 31.25x |
| Ossett Cum Gawthorpe | 1 | 57.80x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 2.55x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Devis surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Devis surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Devis households.
FAQ
In 1881, 51 people were recorded with the Devis surname. That placed it at #26,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 63 in 2016. That gives Devis a modern rank of #34,163.
A surname derived from the Latin word "divisus", meaning divided or divided in two.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Devis bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.