Evans
/ˈɛvənz/noun
A Welsh patronymic surname meaning “son of Evan.”
Did you know?Evans ultimately traces back through Welsh patronymic naming to Evan, the Welsh form of John, whose deepest root means “Yahweh is gracious.”
Etymological Timeline
Old French / Medieval Latin
Latin
Iohannes
“The name John, from Hebrew Yohanan, meaning “Yahweh is gracious.””
Middle Welsh
Welsh
Ieuan / Ifan / Evan
“Welsh forms of John used as personal names.”
Middle Welsh
Welsh
ap Evan
““son of Evan,” a patronymic phrase.”
14th–16th Century
English
Evans
“A hereditary surname formed from the patronymic “ap Evan.””
Modern English
English
Evans
“A common surname, especially in Wales and among Welsh-descended families.”