The Travis surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 34,985 people carried this name — #998 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 8,430 people counted. That is up 5% from 33,339 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Travis surname

A surname originating as an occupation.

From an Old French word meaning "to cross over," related to traverse. Probably a name for a gatekeeper or the toll collector of a bridge.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Travis» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

An early record he cites: Walter de Travers, 1219 — History of Northumberland (Hodgson).

His entry covers Traverse, Travers, Travis and Traviss.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 762 · public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Travis was found among the farmers of 3 counties.

It was most frequent in Lincolnshire: 11 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 909. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Lincolnshire 11
Lancashire 10
Derbyshire 9

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

53 Travis families were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 300 people lived in those households, 5.7 to a family on average. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

New York 34
Pennsylvania 7
North Carolina 4
South Carolina 3
New Hampshire 2
Massachusetts 2
Virginia 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 265 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Travis in American newspapers,
1901–1916.

Newspaper page from Lawrence Democrat carrying the name Travis
Lawrence Democrat 1913-10-29
Newspaper page from The News & Observer carrying the name Travis
The News & Observer 1901-01-09
Newspaper page from The Ogden Standard carrying the name Travis
The Ogden Standard 1916-02-05

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 4,188 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Travis in Australian newspapers,
1840s–2000s.

14,940 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Travis. The most, 2,400, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Queensland, at 1.5 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 4,866
Victoria 4,387
Queensland 4,024
South Australia 675
Western Australia 560
Tasmania 336
ACT (Canberra) 55
Northern Territory 6

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Travis.

Who carried it

People named Travis,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Elizabeth Boush Travis
    Elizabeth Boush Travis 1753–1810
  • John Travis d. 2005 · association football player
  • Barbara Travis d. 1994
  • Louise Beatrice Travis d. 1965
  • Catherine Gunning 1740–1773
  • George Travis 1741–1797 · cleric

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Travis,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States3,110 records

3,110 records of the Travis name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,035
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 838
  • Other U.S. records 1,237
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Calvin E. Travis

    Born 1914 in Georgia. Enlisted 1940 at Los Angeles, California; auto mechanic. U.S. Air Force veteran of World War II; died 1975, buried at Andersonville National Cemetery, Georgia.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Chester B. Travis

    Born 1930; from Pemiscot County, Missouri. U.S. Army, field artillery cannoneer; died of wounds 1950 in South Korea.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Eliza Travis

    Arrived at New York in 1876 aboard the Bothnia from Liverpool, aged 40; matron. From England.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 3,110 records for Travis in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia364 records

364 records of the Travis name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 121
  • Tasmanian Names Index 80
  • Other Australian records 163
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Thomas Travis

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Barossa, sailing from Downs in 1844. Native of Wymondham, Norfolk. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1854. Married 1854 in Oatlands, Tasmania, aged 29.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Elizabeth Travis

    Arrived in Victoria in 1860 aboard the King of Algeria, aged 5; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record John R. Travis

    Machine printer of N Melbourne, Victoria; died 1895.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 364 records for Travis in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada253 records

253 records of the Travis name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 211
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 15
  • Other Canadian records 27
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Maude Travis

    Killed in the Halifax Explosion of 1917, aged 47; buried at St John's Cemetery, Halifax.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record G.f Travis

    Came to Ontario in 1880 aboard the Moravian, landing at Halifax, bound for Simcoe, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record William Ernest Travis

    Died in service in 1944.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.

Showing 3 of 253 records for Travis in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

United Kingdom31 records

31 records of the Travis name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 21
  • Welsh wills index cards 6
  • Stirling Council burial records 4
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Johnes Travis

    Will proved in 1890; of Conway, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record E. Travis

    King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Edith Bridget Travis

    Will proved in 1939; of Swansea.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 31 records for Travis in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand6 records

6 records of the Travis name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 5
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Henry Travis

    Died 1927, aged 74; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record W. Travis

    New Zealand Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Edward Hercules Travis

    Died 1945, aged 63; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 6 records for Travis in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

France1 record

1 record of the Travis name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Thomas Alan Travis

    Born 1935 in Great Britain; died 1994 in Claviers (Var).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands1 record

1 record of the Travis name in the Netherlands Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Walter Victor Travis

    Married in 1945 in Apeldoorn; electrician.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Travis.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Travis is.
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