Save Type Surname (from location) Usage Dutch Pronounced Pron. /ˈraː.vəns.ˌʋaːi̯/ [key·simplify] Other Forms FormsRavenswaay, van Ravenswaaij Meaning & History From the name of a village in Gelderland, Netherlands, meaning "Raven’s ford", derived from the personal name Raven combined with Old Dutch wade "ford, shallows", later reinterpreted as Middle Dutch way "pool, kolk lake".