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

Dever, 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 Dever surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dever in America

Dever is the 6167th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dever surname appeared 5,549 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Dever.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dever 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 Dever

The surname Dever is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "deor," which means "deer," and likely referred to someone who lived near a deer park or forest. The name is also thought to be related to the Old English word "deor-frith," meaning "deer enclosure."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dever can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Deuere." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a survey of landholdings in England and provides valuable insight into the distribution and prevalence of surnames during that time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "de la Dever" and "atte Dever," indicating its association with a particular location or place name. These variations suggest that the name may have originated from a place called Dever, although the exact location is uncertain.

One notable individual with the surname Dever was Sir John Dever, a member of the English gentry who lived in the 15th century. He was a prominent landowner and served as a Member of Parliament for Wiltshire in 1449.

Another historically significant figure was Thomas Dever, born in 1602, who was a Puritan minister and one of the founders of the town of Taunton, Massachusetts. He played a crucial role in the early settlement of New England and the establishment of religious institutions in the colonies.

In the 18th century, William Dever (1720-1789) was a prominent merchant and shipping magnate in Bristol, England. He amassed a considerable fortune through his trading ventures and was known for his philanthropic endeavors, including the establishment of a school for underprivileged children.

During the Victorian era, John Dever (1823-1891) was a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Holborn Town Hall and the Royal Albion Hotel.

In the 20th century, William G. Dever (1933-2020) was a renowned American archaeologist and scholar who made significant contributions to the understanding of ancient Israelite history and culture through his excavations and research in the Middle East.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Dever who have left their mark on history, demonstrating the rich and varied origins of this name and its representation across various fields and time periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dever

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

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

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

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