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

Coven, 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 Coven surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Coven in America

Coven is the 43006th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Coven surname appeared 503 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 Coven.

We can also compare 2010 data for Coven 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 Coven

The surname Coven is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the 16th century. It is derived from the Old English word "cofen," which means a small room or chamber. The name was likely given to someone who lived in a small house or a specific room within a larger dwelling.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Coven can be found in the parish records of Oxfordshire, England, where a John Coven was mentioned in 1587. The name was also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of land ownership and taxation in England during the reign of William the Conqueror.

In the 17th century, the name Coven was associated with the village of Covent Garden in London. The area was known for its market gardens and was a popular destination for the sale of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. It is possible that some individuals with the surname Coven were involved in the cultivation or trading of these goods.

Notable individuals with the surname Coven include:

1. William Coven (1642-1711), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the St. Paul's Cathedral.

2. Elizabeth Coven (1720-1789), a British playwright and poet, known for her satirical works that criticized the social norms of her time.

3. James Coven (1810-1892), a Scottish botanist and explorer who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in the Himalayas.

4. Alice Coven (1865-1939), an American philanthropist and social reformer, who advocated for women's rights and child welfare.

5. Richard Coven (1901-1968), a British actor and director, who was renowned for his performances in Shakespearean plays and his contributions to the development of modern theater.

Throughout its history, the surname Coven has undergone various spelling variations, including Covin, Covyn, and Covene. These variations reflect the regional dialects and linguistic changes that occurred over time. Additionally, the name has been associated with several place names in England, such as Covent Garden and Coventry, which may have influenced its spelling and pronunciation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Coven

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

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

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

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