David Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does David mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
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Origin of the David name
David comes from the Hebrew Dawid, "beloved", the name of the biblical king of Israel. It was a popular baptismal name in medieval France, honoured through the Old Testament and several saints, and passed from father to son as a surname. David is among the most common surnames in France, and the painter Jacques-Louis David is a famous bearer.
Our historical archives hold much more on the David name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the David name in France. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Belgium, Canada and the Philippines; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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David name FAQ
What does the David name mean?
Beloved (Hebrew). Common variants include Davy, Davin, Daviet, Davide.
Where does the David surname come from?
It originates in France, and is also found in Belgium, Canada and the Philippines.
Is there a David coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single David crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized David coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France (Larousse); Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille (Perrin, 1991); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).