Davis Cemetery Records
Search burial records, grave locations, and genealogy data for the Davis family name across all 50 states.
🏺 Origin of the Davis Surname
Davis is a Welsh and English patronymic surname meaning "son of David," from the Hebrew name David (beloved). It is particularly common in Wales, where David is the patron saint (Saint David's Day is March 1). Davis spread widely in England and became one of the most common surnames among Welsh immigrants to America.
🇺🇸 Davis Families in American History
Davis families came to America primarily from Wales and England. The surname is deeply associated with the American South — Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, made the name historically prominent. Davis is also among the most common surnames for African Americans, reflecting both Welsh-origin enslavers and post-emancipation surname adoption.
Where Davis Families Are Concentrated
| State | Notes |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Among the highest Davis concentrations; strong Confederate heritage connection |
| Mississippi | Home state of Jefferson Davis; high both white and Black Davis families |
| Kentucky | Jefferson Davis was born here; strong Scots-Welsh Davis heritage |
| Tennessee | Strong Appalachian Davis community with colonial roots |
| North Carolina | Deep colonial Welsh/English Davis heritage; significant African American population |
Famous Americans Named Davis
President of the Confederacy; buried at Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, VA
Jazz trumpeter; buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, NY
Film actress; buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, CA
Entertainer; buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, CA
Sample Davis Burial Records
| Name | Birth | Death | Cemetery | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles Davis | 1926 | 1991 | Woodlawn Cemetery | NY |
Search Tips for Davis Family Records
Southern Davis families require both white and Black record searches — the surname spans both communities extensively
Confederate pension records are a useful tool for Civil War-era Davis family research in Southern states
Welsh Davis families in Pennsylvania and Appalachia have good Baptist and Methodist church records
For Miles Davis family research, East St. Louis, IL and Alton, IL records are important
Search "Davies" (with an E) as the Welsh variant — some families retained this spelling
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Davis different from Davies?
Davis and Davies are variant spellings of the same surname. Davies is more common in Wales itself, while Davis is more common in America and England. Many Welsh immigrants used Davies in British records but Davis in American ones, making cross-referencing essential.
How do I research Davis families connected to Jefferson Davis?
Jefferson Davis's family is well-documented. His burial at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA is a famous genealogical landmark. The Jefferson Davis Presidential Library in Biloxi, MS holds extensive family records.
Are there Davis families of non-English/Welsh origin?
Yes. Some Ashkenazi Jewish families anglicized from David or Davidson to Davis. Some French families with similar-sounding surnames also appear as Davis in American records. Context and geography help identify these cases.
How do I search for African American Davis families before 1865?
Slavery-era records are challenging. Plantation records, slave schedules in census data, and church records (where enslaved people appear) are the main sources before emancipation. Post-1865 Freedmen's Bureau records are the best starting point for freedmen named Davis.
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