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

Devney, 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 Devney surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Devney in America

Devney is the 99845th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Devney surname appeared 181 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 Devney.

We can also compare 2010 data for Devney 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 Devney

The surname Devney has its origins in England and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "dene" and "ey," which collectively translate to "valley by the river." This suggests that the name may have originated among individuals residing in a settlement situated near a river valley or stream.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Devney can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and estates compiled in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror. This historical document includes mentions of individuals bearing variations of the name, such as "de Deneia" and "de Deneya," further solidifying the name's English origins.

The first recorded instance of the surname Devney dates back to 1273, when a certain John de Denee is mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire. This ancient document, which recorded landowners and their property holdings, provides valuable insight into the early use and spelling variations of the name.

In the 14th century, another notable figure bearing the surname Devney was Sir William Denny, a prominent knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. Sir William Denny was born in 1315 and played a significant role in several military campaigns against the French.

During the 16th century, the Devney surname gained prominence in the town of Denny, located in Stirlingshire, Scotland. This town's name is believed to have derived from the same linguistic roots as the surname, further strengthening the connection between the name and its geographical origins.

One of the most renowned individuals with the surname Devney was Sir Edward Denny (1547-1599), an English courtier and diplomat who served as Governor of Towcester and held influential positions during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 18th century, another notable figure was Sir Barry Denny (1722-1786), an Irish baronet and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Tralee. His contributions to public life and governance further solidified the Devney surname's presence in historical records.

While the surname Devney has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Denny, Denney, and Dennye, its origins can be traced back to the medieval era in England, where it was closely associated with settlements near river valleys or streams.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Devney

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

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

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

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