Denver
An American surname derived from the name of the city of Denver, Colorado.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 720 Americans carry the last name Denver. That puts it at #36,695 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.21 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 476,048 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Denver surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
720
1 in 476,048
Census rank
#36,695
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
609
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 609 bearers of the surname Denver in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.21 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 36695th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Denver, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.9%. The next largest groups are Black (3.9%) and Hispanic (3.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Denver
The surname Denver is of English origin, derived from the name of the city of Denver in England. The name first appeared in historical records in the late 12th century, likely referring to someone who hailed from the town of Denver in Norfolk, England.
The name Denver is thought to be derived from the Old English words "dene" meaning a valley, and "fara" meaning a traveler or explorer. This suggests the name may have originally referred to someone who traveled through or inhabited a particular valley.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Denver is found in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk, dated 1199. These were records of financial transactions and accounts kept by the English Crown during the reign of King Richard I.
In the 13th century, a Robert de Denver was listed as a tenant in the manor of Cranworth in Norfolk, according to the records of the Hundred Rolls of 1273. This suggests the Denver family had established themselves as landowners in the region by this time.
An early notable bearer of the name was Sir Robert Denver, who served as a member of Parliament for Norfolk in 1339 during the reign of King Edward III. He was also appointed as the Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk in 1344.
Another significant figure with the surname Denver was Thomas Denver, who was born in 1504 in Norfolk. He was a prominent member of the Protestant Reformation movement and served as a chaplain to King Henry VIII and later to King Edward VI.
In the 17th century, Walter Denver, born in 1615 in Norfolk, was a notable English politician and served as a Member of Parliament for Norfolk from 1660 to 1679 during the reign of King Charles II.
The surname Denver has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Denver Priory in Norfolk, which was a Benedictine monastery founded in the 12th century, and Denver Sluice, a significant drainage channel in the Fens region of eastern England.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Denver
Among Census respondents with the surname Denver, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.9%. The next largest groups are Black (3.9%) and Hispanic (3.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Denver bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Denver surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White84.9%
- Black or African American3.9%
- Hispanic or Latino3.8%
- Two or more races3.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Denver surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #36,695 | #36,695 | 0.0% |
| Count | 609 | 609 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.21 | 0.21 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Denver bearers went from 609 to 609 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #36,695 to #36,695.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Denver
FAQ
Denver surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Denver?
The surname Denver holds position #36,695 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 720 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.21 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Denver surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Denver, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.9%. The next largest groups are Black (3.9%) and Hispanic (3.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.