Davis

Davis is a surname of English and Scottish origin, a patronymic form derived from the given name David and meaning “son of David.” It is related to Davies, the Welsh form, and to other variants such as Davison and Davidson. The name is common in English-speaking countries and has also been adopted as a given name in some cases.

Geographically and institutionally, Davis appears in a variety of contexts. The best-known place is Davis, California, a university town that hosts the University of California, Davis. There are other towns and counties in the United States and beyond that bear the name Davis. The surname also appears in the names of institutions and facilities, such as Davis Station, a permanent research base in Antarctica.

In popular usage, Davis is associated with several notable entities. The Davis Cup, an international men’s tennis team competition, is named after Dwight F. Davis, who proposed the event in the early 20th century. The name is also linked to educational institutions, most prominently the University of California, Davis, a major public research university known for programs across science, engineering, and the humanities. Beyond these, Davis appears in various business, cultural, and scientific contexts as a common surname and toponym, reflecting its widespread use in English-speaking regions.