Gervaise

Gervaise m

English: introduced to Britain by the Normans. It is of unknown derivation: it has been suggested that it might be a dithematic Germanic name, with the first element gār, gēr spear, but it is difficult to suggest a plausible second element. The use of the name seems to be due entirely to a certain St Gervasius, whose remains, together with those of Protasius, were discovered in Milan in the year 386. Nothing is known about their lives, but St Ambrose, who had ordered the search for their remains, declared that they were martyrs, and a cult soon grew up. Given these circumstances, we might expect their names to be Greek or Latin, but if they are, the elements remain unidentified. The name is in use mainly among Roman Catholics. Protasius has not survived as a given name. See also JARVIS (SEE Jarvis).

Variant: Gervase.

Cognates: French Gervais. Italian, Spanish, Portuguese: Gervasio. German: Gervas. Dutch: Gervaas. Polish: Gerwazy. Russian: Gervasi.