Aviss History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Etymology of Aviss

The Aviss surname is derived from the Middle English/Old French given name Avice of uncertain origins, but interestingly one source noted that it is from "the personal name Avice, Latinized Avitius, found before 1086. (Domesday Book)." 1

Early Origins of the Aviss family

Early History of the Aviss family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Aviss research. Another 38 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1524, 1674, 1709, 1736, 1752 and 1770 are included under the topic Early Aviss History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Aviss Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Aviss are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Aviss include Avis, Avison, Aviss and others.

Early Notables of the Aviss family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Charles Avison (1709-1770) English, Baroque composer. When a young man he visited Italy for the purpose of study, and after his return to England, became a pupil of Geminiani. On July 12, 1736, he was appointed organist of the church of St. Nicholas, in his native town. In addition to his musical attainments, he was a scholar, and a...
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Aviss Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Aviss family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Aviss, or a variant listed above: George Avis, a servant sent from Bristol to Virginia in 1663; George Avis, who received a land patent in Virginia in 1664; William Avis, who settled in Boston in 1664.