Gavin is a male

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

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'' is an epic poem connected with

King Arthur King Arthur ( cy, Brenin Arthur, kw, Arthur Gernow, br, Roue Arzhur) is a legendary king of Britain, and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In the earliest traditions, Arthur appears as a ...

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 that e ...

. 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 is the name of an early Christian martyr ( San Gavino, Porto Torres, Sardinia) 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 (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 Barry Gavin (20 August 1944 – 8 May 2017) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the North Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in ...

(1944–2017), Australian rules footballer * Bill Gavin (1907–1985), American radio personality and publisher * Blair Gavin (born 1989), American soccer player *

Brian Gavin Brian Gavin (born 14 November 1957) is a fifth-generation diamond cutter from South Africa. Referred to as "Brian the Cutter," Gavin is best known for establishing a quality benchmark and grading system for hearts and arrows diamonds, a specializ ...

(born 1957), South African diamond cutter *

Brian Gavin (referee) Brian Gavin (born 13 July 1977) is an Irish hurling referee. Career A native of Clara, County Offaly, Gavin is one of the sport's top referees and officiated at All-Ireland finals in minor, under-21, and the senior final in 2011. In 2013 F ...

(born 1977), Irish hurling referee *

Buck Gavin Patrick Marvin "Buck" Gavin (June 22, 1895 – April 12, 1981) was a professional American football player who played running back for seven seasons for Buffalo, Detroit, Rock Island Independents, Green Bay Packers, and Hammond Pros The Hamm ...

(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 (born 1960), Brazilian drummer and music producer * Cy Gavin (born 1985), American artist * Diarmuid Gavin (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) Frank Gavin may refer to: * 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 ...

, 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 Herbert "Herb" James Gavin (15 November 1921 in Winterset, Iowa – 27 June 2009 in California) was an American Chief Test Pilot in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He retired on 1 June 1978 as Major General. He is buried in ...

(1921–2009), United States Army Air Forces test pilot *

Hugh Gavin Lodovic Hugh Gavin (25 October 1878 – 13 November 1940) was an Australian rules footballer who played 108 games for the Essendon Football Club in the years following the formation of the Victorian Football League (VFL). Football Gavin, a key ...

(1878–1940), Australian rules footballer * James Gavin (disambiguation), multiple people * Jamila Gavin British Indian born author of The Surya Trilogy *

Jason Gavin (disambiguation) Jason Gavin may refer to: * Jason Gavin (footballer) (born 1980), Irish football player * Jason Gavin (writer), television writer {{hndis, Gavin, Jason ...

, multiple people * Jim Gavin (footballer) (born 1971), Irish Gaelic footballer and manager * John Gavin (1931–2018), American actor, diplomat, and politician *

John Gavin (disambiguation) John Gavin (1931–2018) was an American film actor and former United States Ambassador to Mexico. John Gavin may also refer to: * John Gavin (comedian) (born 1979), Scottish comedian *Johnny Gavin (footballer) (1928–2007), Irish footballer, rec ...

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 closing ceremony, 2012 Summer Olympics and 2012 Summer Paralympics closing ceremony, Paralympics closing ceremonies. ...

, British choreographer *

Leon H. Gavin Leon Harry Gavin (February 25, 1893 – September 15, 1963) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Biography Leon H. Gavin was born in Buffalo, New York, and moved to Oil City, Pennsylvania, in 1915. ...

(1893–1963), American politician *

Mark Gavin Mark Wilson Gavin (born 10 December 1963) is a Scottish former footballer who played as a winger. He made over 290 Football League appearances in the 1980s and 1990s. Career Mark Gavin played his youth football with Leeds United. Gavin signed p ...

(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 (born 1972), British racing driver * Paddy Gavin (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, Northern Irish footballer *

Peter Gavin Peter Gavin (October 15, 1847 – February 22, 1931) was a merchant and political figure in Prince Edward Island. He represented 1st Prince in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1879 to 1883 as a Conservative member. He w ...

(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 Str ...

(1827–1883), British painter * Rod Gavin (born 1949), New Zealand canoeist * Rupert Gavin (born 1953), English businessman *

Stewart Gavin Robert Stewart Gavin (born March 15, 1960) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the NHL between 1980 and 1993. Gavin was selected 74th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. Gavin played ...

(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'' * Gavin Belson, a character from the HBO series '' Silicon Valley'' * 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. The ser ...

'' * Gavin Reed, a character from the video game '' Detroit: Become Human'' *Gavin Shipman, a character in the BBC sitcom '' Gavin & Stacey'' * Gavin Spinner Mason, a fictional character in ''Degrassi: The Next Generation'' * Gavin Stevens (Faulkner character), 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, the ''Austin & Ally'' character * Gavin Strick, a character in the movie '' Disturbing Behavior''

Fictional characters with the surname

Teddy Gavin Teddy is an English language given name, usually a hypocorism of Edward or Theodore. It may refer to: People Nickname * Teddy Atlas (born 1956), boxing trainer and fight commentator * Teddy Bourne (born 1948), British Olympic epee fencer * Teddy ...

, 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 Em ...

, 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