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

Craven, 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 Craven surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Craven in America

Craven is the 2341st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Craven surname appeared 15,567 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Craven.

We can also compare 2010 data for Craven 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 Craven

The surname Craven is an English locational name derived from the Craven district of North Yorkshire. It originates from the Old Norse word "krafr," meaning "nook" or "corner," referring to the secluded and remote nature of the area. The Craven district encompasses the scenic Yorkshire Dales and has a rich history dating back to the 7th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Craven can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cravene." This Norman survey of landholdings in England provides valuable insight into the distribution of names and families during that era.

In the 12th century, the surname Craven was associated with the powerful Craven family, who held significant land and influence in the Craven district. Notable members include Sir William Craven (c. 1170-1244), a prominent landowner and benefactor of the Cistercian order.

The name Craven also has ties to the nearby town of Skipton, which was once referred to as "Skipton-in-Craven." This connection is evident in the life of Sir William Craven (1608-1697), a renowned merchant, courtier, and philanthropist who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1669.

Another notable figure was Richard Craven (c. 1530-1600), an English churchman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1584 to 1586.

In the literary world, the surname Craven is associated with Thomas Craven (1616-1648), an English poet and playwright best known for his tragedy "The Reformation." His works provide valuable insight into the cultural and political climate of 17th-century England.

The Craven surname also has ties to the military, with Sir Nevill Maskelyne Craven (1863-1941), a British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for valor in the British Empire.

Throughout history, the surname Craven has been spelled in various ways, including Cravin, Cravene, and Cravyn, reflecting the evolution of language and regional variations. While its roots can be traced back to the Craven district of Yorkshire, the name has since spread across England and beyond, carried by families who have contributed to the rich tapestry of history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Craven

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

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

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

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