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

Devens, 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 Devens surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Devens in America

Devens is the 35294th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Devens surname appeared 638 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Devens.

We can also compare 2010 data for Devens 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 Devens

The surname DEVENS is believed to have originated from the Anglo-Saxon culture in England. It is thought to have derived from an Old English word meaning "dwelling" or "place of residence." The earliest known spelling variations include Deven, Devene, and Devenne.

The name DEVENS can be traced back to the 11th century, with records showing it appearing in the Domesday Book of 1086. This ancient manuscript, commissioned by William the Conqueror, served as a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname DEVENS was Robert de Devene, who lived in Oxfordshire during the late 12th century. Another notable figure was Sir John Devens, a wealthy landowner and member of the gentry in Gloucestershire, who lived from 1425 to 1493.

In the 16th century, the name DEVENS became associated with the village of Devens in Hertfordshire, suggesting a possible connection to a place of origin. This village's name was derived from the Old English words "defe" and "denu," meaning "deep valley."

During the 17th century, several individuals with the DEVENS surname gained prominence. One such person was Edward Devens (1617-1691), a Puritan clergyman and one of the founders of the New Haven Colony in Connecticut.

Another notable figure was Sir William Devens (1625-1702), a wealthy merchant and member of the Company of Merchant Adventurers in London. He played a significant role in establishing trade routes with the American colonies.

In the 18th century, Samuel Devens (1737-1820) was a prominent American jurist and statesman. He served as a judge in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and was involved in the drafting of the Massachusetts Constitution.

The DEVENS surname has also been associated with several military figures throughout history. One example is Charles Devens (1820-1891), a Union Army general during the American Civil War and later the Attorney General of the United States under President Rutherford B. Hayes.

While the DEVENS surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonization. Its rich history and diverse associations demonstrate the evolving nature of surnames and their connections to places, occupations, and significant individuals.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Devens

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

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

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

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