Davis (surname)

Davis is a surname of Welsh origin. It may be a corruption of Dyfed. Dyfed is recorded as a surname as late as the twelfth century, e.g. Gwynfard Dyfed, born 1175. Dafydd appears as a given name in the thirteenth century, e.g. Dafydd ap Gruffydd, Prince of Wales, and Dafydd ab Edmwnd, a Welsh poet. Alternatively, Davis may be a patronymic surname.
According to the 2000 United States census, it is the seventh most frequently reported surname, accounting for 0.48% of the population, preceding Garcia and following Miller.