Find out how popular the last name Bivens is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Bivens.

Bivens, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Bivens surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bivens in America

Bivens is the 3701st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bivens surname appeared 9,603 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Bivens.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bivens to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Bivens

The surname Bivens is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval era. It is thought to derive from the Old English word "byfan," which means "to tremble" or "to shake." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who had a tendency to tremble or shake, possibly due to old age or illness.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bivens can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the 13th century, where it appears as "Bivens." This indicates that the name was already in use during this period. Additionally, there are references to variations of the name, such as "Byvens" and "Bivyns," in various historical documents from the 14th and 15th centuries.

The Bivens surname is also closely associated with certain place names in England, particularly the village of Bivan in Shropshire. It is believed that the name may have originated from this location, with early bearers taking on the name as a way to identify themselves with their place of origin.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the Bivens surname. One such person was John Bivens, a merchant and landowner who lived in Gloucestershire in the late 16th century. Records indicate that he was involved in the wool trade and owned substantial properties in the region.

Another prominent figure was Sir William Bivens, who served as a member of the English Parliament during the reign of King Charles I in the 17th century. He played a significant role in the political and legal debates of his time and was known for his strong advocacy for civil rights.

In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the Bivens name was Mary Bivens, a renowned poet and writer who gained recognition for her work in the literary circles of London. Her published works include a collection of poems titled "The Garden of Verse" and several essays on social and cultural topics.

During the 19th century, the Bivens surname gained further prominence with the birth of Thomas Bivens, a renowned explorer and naturalist. He embarked on numerous expeditions to remote regions of the world, documenting flora and fauna, and contributing to the field of natural history.

Another individual worth mentioning is Sir Robert Bivens, a distinguished military officer who served in the British Army during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He participated in several conflicts, including the Boer War and World War I, and was decorated for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bivens

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Bivens.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Bivens was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Bivens has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Bivens was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bivens, please contact us.

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