Re: Origin of AVIS name????

Avis means bird in Latin and sign or notice in French. It has always been my understanding that the Avis name arrived in England from France at the time of the Norman conquests. The name is Germanic in origin and exceedingly old.

Its first-known form was Haduwig (now Hedwig in modern Germany) meaning 'refuge in war'. The French softened it to Edwige, and the Norman dialect gave it to us as Havoise. By degrees it was then changed to Havoisia, Avicia, Avice and finally Avis. The name, in various forms is frequently found in medieval records.

Avis is also woman's first name now rarely used but I think this comes from the Latin.