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

Covey, 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 Covey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Covey in America

Covey is the 4212th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Covey surname appeared 8,414 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 Covey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Covey 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 Covey

The surname Covey has its origins in England, where it emerged as an occupational name during the medieval period. Derived from the Old English word "cofie," meaning a small house or hut, it was likely initially given to someone who lived in or was associated with a small dwelling.

The earliest recorded instances of the Covey surname can be traced back to the 13th century, with references appearing in various historical documents and records from that time. One notable example is found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, where a certain Simon de la Covey is mentioned in 1279.

As the name spread across England, it underwent various spelling variations, including Covey, Covie, Covy, and Covaye. These variations reflect the influence of local dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Covey name was John Covey, who was born in Lincolnshire, England, in the late 15th century. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the region.

During the 16th century, the Covey surname gained further recognition with the notable figure of Edward Covey, born in 1520 in Norfolk, England. He was a respected scholar and author, known for his contributions to the field of theology.

The 17th century saw the rise of another notable Covey, Thomas Covey, born in 1635 in Gloucestershire. He was a renowned architect and played a significant role in the reconstruction efforts following the Great Fire of London in 1666.

In the 18th century, the name Covey was associated with the pioneering botanist and naturalist, William Covey (1720-1792), who made significant contributions to the study of plants and their classification.

The 19th century brought forth the influential figure of Mary Covey (1845-1912), a prominent social reformer and advocate for women's rights. She was a leading figure in the suffragette movement and played a crucial role in the fight for women's suffrage in England.

While the Covey surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America and Australia, as a result of migration and exploration. However, its origins can be traced back to the small dwellings of medieval England, where the name first emerged as an occupational descriptor.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Covey

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

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

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

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