Evans (surname)

Evans is a unisex name and surname of Welsh, and possibly Cornish, origin. Within Wales it is the fifth most common surname and is the tenth most common in England. Within the United States, it is ranked as the 48th-most common surname.
Origin.
Evans is of Welsh origin. In its anglicised form the name means "son of Evan". Regarding its Welsh roots, it is a derivative of the name Ifan, a cognate of John. In the Welsh language, the "f" produces the "v" sound; "Ifan" ("Ivan") became "Evan".
The similarity to the Slavic name Ivan is not accidental, as it is also a cognate of John.
In the Welsh language the patronymic "ab Evan" resulted in the anglicized surname "Bevan", which is also common in Wales.