Travis Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Travis last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Travis last name
Meaning of the Travis last name: toll collector at a crossing. Travis is an English surname for a toll collector at a bridge or crossing, from Old French traverse, "crossing". Early forms such as Travers appear in Lancashire and Yorkshire. A curious detail of this surname origin: William Travis commanded the defenders at the Alamo, and Travis County in Texas, home of Austin, is named after him, which helped make the last name a popular first name too.
Arms associated with the Travis name
English heraldry loves puns, choosing figures that echo the sound of a name, and that playful custom runs through many coats of arms linked with the Travis name.
Get your full Travis family history
This is only a glimpse of the Travis story. The full Travis history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Travis coat of arms. Get the full Travis report.
Travis name FAQ
What does the Travis name mean?
Toll collector at a crossing. Common variants include Traviss, Traves.
Where does the Travis surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a Travis coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Travis coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).