Gavin is a male given name originating from Scotland. It is a variation on the medieval name Gawain, meaning "God send" or "white hawk" (or falcon). Sir Gawain was a knight of

King Arthur's Round Table King Arthur's Round Table is a Neolithic henge in the village of Eamont Bridge in the English county of Cumbria, around south east of Penrith. It is 400 metres from Mayburgh Henge. The site is free to visitors and is under the control of ...

. ''

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight ''Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'' is a late 14th-century chivalric romance in Middle English. The author is unknown; the title was given centuries later. It is one of the best-known Arthurian stories, with its plot combining two types of f ...

'' is an epic poem connected with King Arthur's

Round Table The Round Table ( cy, y Ford Gron; kw, an Moos Krenn; br, an Daol Grenn; la, Mensa Rotunda) is King Arthur's famed table in the Arthurian legend, around which he and his knights congregate. As its name suggests, it has no head, implying tha ...

. Gawain beheads the Green Knight who promptly replaces his head and threatens Gawain an identical fate the same time next year. Decapitation figures elsewhere: the Italian name

Gavino Gavino is a male given name. It is common in Sardinia. Despite its form, it is unrelated to Gavin, dating back to ancient Latin (meaning "from Gabii"). Saint Gavinus ( San Gavino, Porto Torres, Sardinia) was an early Christian martyr, an ex-Roma ...

is the name of an early Christian martyr (

San Gavino, Porto Torres The Basilica di San Gavino (Basilica of Saint Gabinus) is a proto- Romanesque church in Porto Torres, Sardinia, Italy. A former cathedral, it is now a place for the veneration of local martyrs and a parish church. History Turris Libisonis (Lati ...

Sardinia Sardinia ( ; it, Sardegna, label= Italian, Corsican and Tabarchino ; sc, Sardigna , sdc, Sardhigna; french: Sardaigne; sdn, Saldigna; ca, Sardenya, label= Algherese and Catalan) is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, af ...

) who was beheaded in 300 AD, his head being thrown in the Mediterranean Sea only later reunited and interred with his body.

People with the given name

People with the surname

Agnes Gavin Agnes Gavin (1872–1947), was an Australian actor and screenwriter in the silent film era. She worked in collaboration with her husband John Gavin throughout her career. She wrote the majority of his films and was arguably the first specialist s ...

(1872–1947), Australian actor and screenwriter *

Andy Gavin Andrew Scott Gavin (born June 11, 1970) is an American video game programmer, entrepreneur, and novelist. Gavin co-founded the video game company Naughty Dog with childhood friend Jason Rubin in 1986, which released games including '' Crash Bandi ...

(born 1970), American programmer *

Barrie Gavin Barrie Gavin (born 10 June 1935) is a British film director. Early years Barrie Gavin was educated at St Paul's School, and studied history at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge from 1954 to 1957.'Cambridge Tripos Lists', ''Times'', 28 June 1 ...

(born 1935), British film director * Barry Gavin (1944–2017), Australian rules footballer *

Bill Gavin Bill Gavin (November 6, 1907 – January 27, 1985) was an American radio personality and publisher of the influential ''Gavin Report''. Life and education Gavin was born in Chetek, Wisconsin in 1907. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Cla ...

(1907–1985), American radio personality and publisher * Blair Gavin (born 1989), American soccer player * Brian Gavin (born 1957), South African diamond cutter * Brian Gavin (referee) (born 1977), Irish hurling referee * Buck Gavin (1895–1981), American football player *

Catherine Gavin Catherine Irvine Gavin (13 May 1907 – 27 December 1999) was a Scottish academic historian, war correspondent, and historical novelist. Early life Gavin was born in Aberdeen in 1907, and studied history and English at the University of Aberdee ...

(1907–2000), Scottish academic historian, war correspondent and historical novelist *

Charles Gavin Charles de Souza Gavin (born July 9, 1960) is a Brazilian drummer and music producer, perhaps best known for his 25-year tenure with rock band Titãs. Before Titãs, he had brief stints at Ira! and RPM. Early life and first works At age 8, hi ...

(born 1960), Brazilian drummer and music producer * Cy Gavin (born 1985), American artist *

Diarmuid Gavin Diarmuid Gavin (born 10 May 1964) is an Irish garden designer and television personality. He has presented gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show on nine occasions from 1995 to 2016, winning a number of medals, including gold in 2011. He has also ...

(born 1964), Irish garden designer and television personality * Don Gavin, American stand-up comedian and actor * Enon Gavin (born 1971), Irish Gaelic footballer * Erica Gavin (born 1947), American actress *

Francis Gavin Francis J. Gavin is an American historian currently serving as the Giovanni Agnelli Distinguished Professor and Director of the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in ...

(born 1962), American political scientist * Frank Gavin (disambiguation), multiple people * Frankie Gavin (disambiguation), multiple people * George Gavin (1810–1880), Irish politician *

James M. Gavin James Maurice Gavin (March 22, 1907 – February 23, 1990), sometimes called "Jumpin' Jim" and "the jumping general", was a senior United States Army officer, with the rank of lieutenant general, who was the third Commanding General (CG) of the 8 ...

(1907–1991), American general * Hector Gavin (1815–1855), Scottish physician and sanitarian * Herb Gavin (1921–2009), United States Army Air Forces test pilot * Hugh Gavin (1878–1940), Australian rules footballer * James Gavin (disambiguation), multiple people * Jamila Gavin British Indian born author of The Surya Trilogy * Jason Gavin (disambiguation), multiple people *

Jim Gavin (footballer) Jim Gavin (born 1 July 1971) is an Irish Gaelic football manager and former player. He was the manager of the senior Dublin county team from 2012 to 2019, becoming the county's most successful manager in terms of major titles won. Gavin is ...

(born 1971), Irish Gaelic footballer and manager *

John Gavin John A. Gavin (born Juan Vincent Apablasa; April 8, 1931 – February 9, 2018) was an American actor who was the president of the Screen Actors Guild (1971–73), and the United States Ambassador to Mexico (1981–86). Among the films he appeared ...

(1931–2018), American actor, diplomat, and politician * John Gavin (disambiguation) or Johnny Gavin, multiple people * Joseph G. Gavin Jr (1920–2010), American engineer * Julian Gavin (born 1965), Australian-born British opera singer * Kelontae Gavin (born 1999), American gospel singer and preacher * Ken Gavin (1883 – c. 1956), Australian rugby union player *

Kim Gavin Kim Gavin is a British director, choreographer, and former ballet dancer. He was the creative director of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics closing ceremonies. Kim Gavin is the son of a plumber from Ilford in East London. He was brought u ...

, British choreographer * Leon H. Gavin (1893–1963), American politician * Mark Gavin (born 1963), Scottish footballer * Michael Gavin (born 1986), American soccer player * Natalie Gavin, English actress * Nigel Gavin, New Zealand musician and composer * Norman Gavin (1922–2013), English cricketer *

Oliver Gavin Oliver Benjamin Gavin (born 29 September 1972), is a British racing driver who joined Corvette Racing in 2002. He has won five American Le Mans Series class championships, five 24 Hours of Le Mans class wins, five 12 Hours of Sebring class win ...

(born 1972), British racing driver *

Paddy Gavin Patrick Joseph Gavin (6 June 1929 – 8 April 2006) was a footballer who played for Dundalk and Doncaster Rovers, mainly as a left back. He also appeared in two international matches, for The League of Ireland, and for Ireland B. Club career ...

(1929–2006), Irish footballer *

Pat Gavin Patrick John Gavin (born 5 June 1967) is a retired English footballer. He played as a striker for several clubs, with probably his most successful spell coming at Gillingham. Career Gavin started out playing for non-league Hanwell Town whil ...

(born 1967), English footballer *

Patrick Gavin Peter Gavin was a Northern Irish footballer who played as a left back in the Football League for Blackpool Blackpool is a seaside resort in Lancashire, England. Located on the northwest coast of England, it is the main settlement with ...

, Northern Irish footballer * Peter Gavin (1847–1931), Canadian merchant and politician *

Peter Gavin (Australian politician) Peter Murray Gavin (born 27 February 1949) is a former Australian politician. He was born in Melbourne to James Murray Gavin and Amy Gullock, both public servants. He attended Catholic schools in Melbourne before studying at La Trobe University, ...

(born 1949), Australian politician *

Robert Gavin Robert Gavin, R.S.A. (1827 – 5 October 1883) was a Scottish painter. Biography Gavin was the second son of Peter Gavin, a merchant at Leith, where the painter was born in 1827. His father was a ship chandler with premises on Commercial Stre ...

(1827–1883), British painter *

Rod Gavin Roderick Fitzgerald Gavin (born 20 May 1949) is a New Zealand sprint canoeist who competed in the late 1970s. At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and mos ...

(born 1949), New Zealand canoeist * Rupert Gavin (born 1953), English businessman * Stewart Gavin (born 1960), Canadian ice hockey player * Tim Gavin (born 1963), Australian rugby union player

Fictional characters with the given name

* Gavin Banek, a character in the movie ''

Changing Lanes ''Changing Lanes'' is a 2002 American drama thriller film directed by Roger Michell and starring Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson. The film follows a successful, young Wall Street lawyer (Affleck) who accidentally crashes his car into a vehicle ...

'' * Gavin Belson, a character from the HBO series ''

Silicon Valley Silicon Valley is a region in Northern California that serves as a global center for high technology and innovation. Located in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area, it corresponds roughly to the geographical areas San Mateo Count ...

'' * Gavin Guile, a character from the Lightbringer series by Brent Weeks * Gavin Mitchell, a character from the Nickelodeon sitcom ''

Drake & Josh ''Drake & Josh'' is an American teen sitcom created by Dan Schneider for Nickelodeon. The series follows two teenage stepbrothers Drake Parker ( Drake Bell) and Josh Nichols ( Josh Peck) as they live together despite opposite personalities. Th ...

'' * Gavin Reed, a character from the video game '' Detroit: Become Human'' *Gavin Shipman, a character in the BBC sitcom ''

Gavin & Stacey ''Gavin & Stacey'' is a British sitcom written by James Corden and Ruth Jones about two families: one in Billericay, Essex; one in Barry, South Wales. Mathew Horne and Joanna Page play the titular characters Gavin and Stacey and the writers ...

'' * Gavin Spinner Mason, a fictional character in ''Degrassi: The Next Generation'' *

Gavin Stevens (Faulkner character) Gavin Stevens is a lawyer and the county attorney in Jefferson in Faulkner’s fictional Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi. He was educated at Harvard (Phi Beta Kappa) and Heidelberg universities. He is shrewd, observant and tolerant of the quir ...

, a character in several novels by William Faulkner * Gavin Sullivan, a character in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' * Gavin Volure, a character in the television series ''30 Rock'' *

Gavin Young Gavin David Young (24 April 1928 – 18 January 2001) was a journalist and travel writer. He was born in Bude, Cornwall, England. His father, Gavin Young, was a lieutenant colonel in the Welsh Guards. Daphne, his mother, was the daughter of Sir C ...

, the ''Austin & Ally'' character * Gavin Strick, a character in the movie ''

Disturbing Behavior ''Disturbing Behavior'' is a 1998 teen science fiction psychological horror film starring James Marsden, Katie Holmes, and Nick Stahl. The film was directed by David Nutter, who was a director and producer on ''The X-Files'', and the screenplay ...

Fictional characters with the surname

* Teddy Gavin, a character in the television series ''Rescue Me'' *

Tommy Gavin Thomas Michael "Tommy" Gavin is a fictional character and the protagonist of the FX television series '' Rescue Me''. He is portrayed by Denis Leary. For his portrayal, Leary was nominated for the Golden Globe Award (2005) and the Primetime Emm ...

, protagonist of the television series ''Rescue Me'' * Klavier Gavin, a prosecutor in the video game ''Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney''

References

{{given name, type=both English masculine given names Scottish masculine given names

People with the given name

People with the surname

Fictional characters with the given name

Fictional characters with the surname

See also

References