Gervis is an uncommon, traditional male given name of Germanic origin. It derives from the Old High German personal name 'Gerwig,' which is composed of the elements 'geri' meaning 'spear' and 'wig' meaning 'war.' The name was introduced to England by the Normans after the 11th-century conquest. In its early forms, Gervis was often associated with the Latin form of the same name, Gervasius, which was popular among the nobility due to St. Gervase being a martyr and a saint in the Catholic Church. However, the usage of Gervis has waned over time, making it now quite rare.
The name Gervis saw its peak popularity between 1926 and 1930, with 13 and 12 births respectively during these years. However, it's important to note that the overall number of births for this name is quite low throughout the recorded period, with only 217 total births over several decades. The name appears to have been more commonly used in the early to mid-20th century, with a decline in popularity after the 1950s.