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

Driggs, 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 Driggs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Driggs in America

Driggs is the 13862nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Driggs surname appeared 2,180 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 Driggs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Driggs 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 Driggs

The surname Driggs originates from England, with roots tracing back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "drycg," meaning "dry" or "thirsty," and was likely given as a descriptive name to someone who lived in an arid region or had a particular fondness for beverages.

One of the earliest known references to the name Driggs can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as "Drigges" in Norfolk, England. This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides a comprehensive record of landholders and their holdings across England.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various English records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, where it was spelled "Drigge." Other variations included "Drygg," "Drigg," and "Drigges," reflecting the fluidity of spelling in those times.

In the 14th century, the surname Driggs gained prominence with the birth of Sir John Driggs (1330-1395), a notable English knight and landowner in Oxfordshire. His descendants continued to hold significant estates in the region for several generations.

Another notable figure was Thomas Driggs (1550-1618), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was known for his philanthropic efforts, including the establishment of a free school in his hometown of Winslow, Buckinghamshire.

The 17th century saw the emergence of Samuel Driggs (1620-1678), an English colonist who settled in New England. He and his family were among the early pioneers in the town of Hempstead, Long Island, where they established a successful farming community.

During the 18th century, the name Driggs was associated with the village of Drigg in Cumbria, England, which likely derived its name from the same Old English root. One notable resident was William Driggs (1725-1801), a prominent landowner and Justice of the Peace in the area.

In the 19th century, the name Driggs gained recognition with the birth of Andrew Sloan Driggs (1810-1888), a prominent American banker and philanthropist from New York City. He was instrumental in the founding of several educational institutions, including the University of the City of New York (now New York University).

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the surname Driggs, a name with roots deeply embedded in the English language and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Driggs

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

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

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

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