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

Cavener, 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 Cavener surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cavener in America

Cavener is the 69392nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cavener surname appeared 283 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Cavener.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cavener 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 Cavener

The surname Cavener originates from the Normandy region of France, tracing its roots back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "cavern," meaning "cave" or "cavern," suggesting a connection to a person who resided near or worked in a cave.

The earliest known record of the Cavener name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners and property holdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that individuals bearing the Cavener surname were among the Norman settlers who arrived in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066.

In the 12th century, the name was recorded as "de Caverner" in a charter from Normandy, indicating the presence of the surname in its homeland. Over time, the spelling evolved, with variations such as "Caverner," "Cavner," and "Caviner" emerging in various regions of England and parts of Scotland.

One notable figure bearing the Cavener surname was Sir John Cavener (1540-1612), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire in the late 16th century. His estate, located in the village of Cavendish, Derbyshire, is believed to have influenced the spelling variation "Cavendish" for some branches of the family.

Another prominent individual was William Cavener (1670-1745), a Scottish merchant and trader who established a successful business in the American colonies. He settled in Charleston, South Carolina, and his descendants played a significant role in the region's economic and political affairs.

During the 18th century, the Cavener name appeared in various records across England, including parish registers and court documents. In the village of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, a family of Caveners owned a pottery business, contributing to the region's renowned ceramics industry.

In the 19th century, Edward Cavener (1819-1891), a British explorer and naturalist, gained recognition for his expeditions to South America, where he documented various plant and animal species. His detailed accounts and collections were valuable contributions to the field of natural history.

As the Cavener surname spread across different regions, it has been associated with various place names and local variations, such as "Cavenhurst" in Lancashire and "Cavenfield" in Yorkshire, reflecting the potential origins or settlements of different branches of the family.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cavener

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

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 Cavener 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 Cavener 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 Cavener was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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