Avis is both a female given name and a surname.
The earliest form of this female given name was the Old German Haduwig comprising the elements hadu "battle" and wig "fight": the original form of the modern German female name Hedwig, Haduwig was modified to Havoise by the Normans and subsequent to the Norman Invasion the name occurred frequently in England throughout the Middle Ages, the standard Middle English form of the name being Hawise. As a female given name in modern times Avis is associated with the Latin avis "bird" although the spelling Avice is sometimes found.
Avis Bohlen (born 1940), American diplomat, former Ambassador to Bulgaria
Avice Maud Bowbyes (1901–1992), New Zealand writer
Avis Bunnage (1923-1990), British actress
Avis M. Dry (1922–2007), clinical psychologist and author on the psychology of Carl Jung
Avis Favaro (born 1958), Canadian medical correspondent for CTV News since 1992
Avis Gray (born 1954), politician in Manitoba, Canada
Avis Kimble (born 1944), American model
Avice Landone (1910-1976), British actress
Avis McIntosh (born 1938), New Zealand former sprinter
Avis Miller (born 1945), American model
Avis Tucker (1915-2010), American owner and publisher of The Daily Star-Journal newspaper
Avis Stearns Van Wagenen (1841-1907), a partner in E. C. Stearns & Company
Avis Van Zomeren Successful shower of American Saddlebred horses and Hackney ponies from Timber Hills Farm.
The 1897 novel The Well-Beloved by Thomas Hardy features three characters named Avice.
A character named Avice is the protagonist of the critically acclaimed 2011 novel "Embassytown" by China Miéville.
Apparently engendered by the female given name: notable namesakes include:
David Avis (born 1951), Canadian and British computer scientist
Gary Avis, dancer with The Royal Ballet
Paul Avis, Anglican priest, theologian and ecumenist
Samuel B. Avis (1872-1924), American politician
Warren Avis (1915-2007), the founder of Avis Rent A Car
