Hello, and welcome to the ALVIS/Van Gramberg Family Tree.  Here you will be  able to see everything that has to do with the ALVIS/Van Gramberg Family.   There is a journal of names to keep our families informed of what is going on  in our families.

The Surname ALVIS appears to be patronymic in origin.  Research indicates that  it can be associated with the English, meaning, "Descendant of Alvis."  Although this interpretation is the result of anosmatic research, you may find  other meanings for the ALVIS family name.

When you begin to do more extensive research on the ALVIS name you may have  difficulty finding it with the exact spelling, which you use today.  It, in  fact, may very well have been spelled differently hundreds of years ago.    Knowing that different spellings of the same original surname are a common  occurrence. It is not surprising that dictionaries of surname indicate  probable spelling variation of the ALVIS surname to Alva, Alvas, Alvise,  Alvase, Alves, Alvey, Alvay, Alvy, Alvie, Alvises, Elvy, Elvey, Aelfuuii,  Alvi, Alfy, Elphey, Alfwy, Aluy, Eluy and many more.  Although bearers of the  old and distinguished ALVIS name comprise a small percentage of individuals  living in the world today, there may be a large number of your direct  relatives who are using one of the Alvis name variations.

In researching the ALVIS family in the websites of the Internet in the hope of  finding my Roots several connected family groups have been discovered.  I  cannot be absolutely certain of the relationships, which these people share.

The ancestors from my mother's lineage bearing the surname Van Gramberg are  thought to descend from Dutch.

"The name 'Burgher' was defined by Chief Justice of Ceylon, Sir Richard  Ottley, in an authoritative pronouncement, when he gave evidence before the  Commission which was appointed in connection with the establishment of a  legislative Council in Ceylon in 1883.  He stated that:

"The name 'Burgher' belongs to descendants of the Dutch, Portuguese and other  Eruopeans born in Ceylon, and the right to distinction must not be decided by  the Country from which their father or paternal ancestor came.  So whatever  the number of generations through which the family has passed in this Island,  if the male ancestors were Dutch, Portuguese and or other Europeans, whoever  may have been the female parents, if the parents were married, the offspring  would be 'Burgher'.  If the parents were not married, the country of the  mother would decide the question.  If the rigt to be denominated 'Burgher' be  once lost by the legitimate father being a Singhalese or other Indian, it  cannot be recovered."

The contents in these pages are compiled from information received by living  relatives and are not by any means intended to offend any individual or  family.  My sincere thanks to the family members for their contribution.

Plese send any comments, updates or corrections and pictures to Mike Alvis at  mklvs261@gmail.com.  As long as I am around I shall undertake the  responsibility of maintaining it up-to-date.  If anyone is interested in  taking control of administrating this Family Tree, please contact me at 905- 455-9703 or 416-318-1607.

Mike Alvis,
 Author