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

Culver, 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 Culver surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Culver in America

Culver is the 2051st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Culver surname appeared 17,566 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Culver.

We can also compare 2010 data for Culver 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 Culver

The surname Culver originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "culfre" or "culfor," which were the terms used for a dove or pigeon. The name may have initially been given as a nickname to someone who had a particular affinity for these birds or possibly as an occupational name for someone who raised or caught doves or pigeons.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Culver surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a person named William Culverd is mentioned. The Culver name also appears in various other historical records from medieval England, such as the Pipe Rolls, the Subsidy Rolls, and the Hearth Tax Returns.

The Culver surname is thought to have originated in the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Gloucestershire, where there are several places with names derived from the Old English word "culfre," such as Culverton and Culworth. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname.

In terms of notable historical figures bearing the Culver surname, one example is Robert Culver, a 16th-century English farmer and landowner from Oxfordshire, who lived from around 1520 to 1580. Another is Thomas Culver, a 17th-century English clergyman and author who was born in 1640 and wrote several theological works.

Moving forward in time, John Culver (1721-1804) was an American farmer and Revolutionary War soldier from Connecticut. Erastus Culver (1826-1899) was a prominent American businessman and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from New York in the late 19th century.

Additionally, William Culver (1758-1844) was an American lawyer and judge who served as the fourth Governor of New York from 1825 to 1828. He was born in Oxfordshire, England, before his family immigrated to the American colonies when he was a child.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the Culver surname, which has its roots in medieval England and is believed to have originated as a nickname or occupational name related to doves or pigeons.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Culver

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

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

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

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