Evelyn is a matronymic English surname derived from the medieval girl's name Aveline (which is of Norman origin and represents a diminutive form of Ava).
The earliest recorded bearer was Evelyn Pierrepoint (d. 1726), who was a grandson of the Roundhead politician Sir John Evelyn.
[2] It is still occasionally used as a boy's name, but is now more often given to girls.
[1] In some cases, the given name may represent an anglicized form of the Irish names Aibhilín and Éibhleann.
[1] The former is also a descendant of Aveline,[3] while the latter is said to derive from the Old Irish óiph ("beauty, radiance").