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

Daves, 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 Daves surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Daves in America

Daves is the 10189th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Daves surname appeared 3,163 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Daves.

We can also compare 2010 data for Daves 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 Daves

The surname Daves is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English personal name David, which ultimately traces its roots back to the Hebrew name "David" meaning "beloved."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Daves surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and property holders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as de Daves and Daves, suggesting its widespread use during that time.

The Daves surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. Some historical references indicate that the name may have been associated with certain occupations or professions, such as shepherding or farming, as many surnames during that era were derived from the trades or professions of their bearers.

Notable individuals bearing the Daves surname include Sir John Daves (c. 1350-1420), who was a prominent English landowner and military commander during the Hundred Years' War. Another notable figure was Robert Daves (c. 1470-1535), a scholar and clergyman who served as the Bishop of Thetford in the early 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Daves surname was found in various records, including parish registers and tax rolls. One noteworthy individual from this period was William Daves (1605-1682), a merchant and landowner from Yorkshire who was known for his philanthropic efforts in supporting local charities and educational institutions.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Daves surname continued to be found in various parts of England, with some families migrating to other regions or countries. One notable figure from this era was Elizabeth Daves (1780-1856), a writer and activist who campaigned for women's rights and education reform.

Throughout its history, the Daves surname has been subject to various spelling variations, including Daves, Davys, Davy, and Davyes, reflecting the inconsistencies in record-keeping and orthography during earlier periods. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained consistent, tracing back to its Old English and Hebrew roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Daves

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

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

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

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