Surname Evoy - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'E'
Evoy: What does the surname Evoy mean?
The surname Evoy is of Anglo-Norman origin, dating back to the 11th-century Norman occupation of England. The name is derived from the Old French personal name E'suet, and came to be used as a surname by families of the Anglo-Norman nobility. The name is believed to have originally been a pet form of the name Eudes, with the suffix -et added to form a diminutive. Over time, the spelling was eventually changed to Evoy.
The surname Evoy is particularly common in Ireland, where it is seen as a variant form of the more common Irish surname Egan. This is due to the fact that the two names developed side-by-side and were subject to much of the same historical events. In England, the surname is more rare, although it can also be found in Scotland, France, and the United States.
The meaning of the surname Evoy is unknown, as it simply derived from a personal name. It is possible, however, that the name was originally associated with some aspect of the individual's physical or mental character, such as being brave or bold, or having a good nature and outlook on life. Alternatively, it could signify an occupational title, such as that of a military leader, a law-maker, or a professional of some sort. Ultimately, the origins and meaning of the name remain shrouded in mystery.
Order DNA origin analysisEvoy: Where does the name Evoy come from?
The last name Evoy is of French origin and is commonly found in France and other French speaking countries such as Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada and parts of Switzerland. It is also found in smaller numbers in other EU countries.
In the US, it is rarely found and according to the 2019 US Census estimates, the surname is only common in a small number of counties and states. Its highest concentration is in California, followed by Texas and then Arizona and Colorado. Interestingly, the spelling of the name changes depending on where one lives. In France the name is traditionally spelled with two “V”s, whereas in America it is often spelled “Evoy” or “Evoi” with just one “V”.
Outside of the US, the surname can also be found in parts of Latin America, the Caribbean, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Evoy ancestry can be traced back to the 17th century in the Lot-et-Garonne department in the south-west of France near the city of Agen. Members of the Evoy family have spread around the world and settled in different countries, as part of the global diaspora.
Today, the surname is relatively infrequent, however there are still pockets of Evoy's across the globe.
Variations of the surname Evoy
The surname Evoy is derived from the Old French word “Avoy”, meaning a steward of a manor house, and was a fairly common surname in France. Over time, the name has taken several variant spellings and evolved with time.
The main variants of Evoy include: Evoie, Evoye, Évoie, Évoys, and Évois. All these spellings point to the French origin of the surname, with the accent placed in different places. Evoy is also a variant of several other surnames, including Évain, Évainet, Évaire, Évairon, Évay, Éveillard, Évie, Évraux and Évreau, all of which have evolved from Avoy.
The location where the surname was first found is in the south-west part of France, in the regions of Gascon and Brie. It is also very common in the areas of Normandy and Brittany.
Over time the surname has spread from France to other parts of the world, and is commonly found in Canada, the United States, the Netherlands, Belgium and Britain. In the United States in particular, the variant forms of the name have been found in Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Texas, New York and Pennsylvania.
Evoy is also a variant of several other surnames, and can be found in different languages and cultures in various parts of the world. For example, in Spanish the variants include Egea, Exiga and Echea, while in German the variants include Ebgen, Egen and Egenauer. Similarly, in other languages the surname may be spelt Evie, Evoa, Eboue, Ewa, Iwai, Ewei and Eweoi.
Famous people with the name Evoy
- Sebastian Evoy: An Australian YouTuber who creates content about mental health, relationships and more.
- Samuel Evoy: An actor from Australia who has appeared in several shows like Lower the tone, Wolf Creek, and Lethal Woman.
- Tom Evoy: Another Australian actor who appeared in the television shows Underbelly: Razor and Offspring.
- Jean Emile Evoy: A Canadian politician who served as a Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa West from 1967: 1985.
- Edith Evoy: An artist from Ireland who creates beautiful paintings and drawings of landscapes and wildlife.
- Lynda Evoy: An Australian author whose book, "The House of Unfolding Dreams", won the 2014 Davitt Award for Best Crime Novel.
- Christopher Evoy: A Canadian film director and screenwriter who directed the films "The Watermen" and "The Toll".
- Dave Evoy: A Canadian professional golf player and instructor who currently coaches for the Canadian Junior Golf Association.
- Lianna Evoy: An award-winning Canadian actress who has appeared in the television shows When Calls the Heart, and Lost Mornings.
- Zachary Evoy: A British journalist and writer whose work has been featured in the Telegraph, the Guardian, and Vice.