Davies

Davies is a Welsh surname derived from Dafydd, the Welsh form of David. The final -s is a patronymic suffix meaning “son of,” so Davies originally signified “son of Dafydd.” The spelling Davies is the most common Welsh form, though variants such as Davis and Davys arose through Anglicization and regional pronunciation.

The surname arose in medieval Wales and spread with migration within Britain and to overseas communities. It remains especially common in Wales and the western regions of Britain, and is widely found among the Welsh diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Variants include Davis and Davys, among others.

In contemporary usage, Davies is a common surname across many fields, including politics, sports, science, and the arts. Its prevalence means that there are numerous individuals with the name who have achieved recognition, and disambiguation pages exist for people with the same given name.

See also Davis, Davys, and other patronymic surnames derived from David.