Darcy

The name Darcy is derived from the Norman French place name 'D'Arcy' or 'D'Ercì', which refers to a village in Normandy, France. The name likely originated from a Germanic personal name combined with the Old French word 'erce', meaning 'cultivated land'.

Darcy emerged as a surname in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066, when the D'Arcy family settled in England and took possession of lands in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.

As a given name, Darcy first gained popularity in the late 20th century, particularly after the character Fitzwilliam Darcy in Jane Austen's novel 'Pride and Prejudice' (1813). The name has since been embraced as a feminine given name, often associated with qualities like elegance, sophistication, and strength.

While the name Darcy has French and Norman roots, it has become a well-established English name, particularly as a feminine given name in the modern era.