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

Elve, 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 Elve surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Elve in America

Elve is the 148347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Elve surname appeared 111 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 Elve.

The history of the last name Elve

The surname ELVE is of English origin, originating from the Old English word "ælf" meaning "elf" or "supernatural being." It is believed to have been originally used as a nickname for someone who was considered to have an elfin or mischievous appearance or nature.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname ELVE can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1194, where a person named Alfwine de Elue is mentioned. This spelling variation suggests that the name may have been derived from a place name or location where elves were believed to reside.

In the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, a William Elfe is recorded, indicating the surname's presence in that region during the 13th century. The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296 also list a Robert Elve, providing evidence of the name's dispersal across different parts of England.

One notable historical figure with the surname ELVE was John Elve, a 16th-century English merchant and seafarer from Bristol, who was born around 1520. He is known for his travels to the West Indies and his accounts of the indigenous peoples he encountered.

Another individual with this surname was Thomas Elve, an English monk and scholar who lived in the late 15th century. He was a member of the Benedictine order and is believed to have been a notable theologian and writer of his time, although few of his works have survived.

In the 17th century, there was a Richard Elve, a farmer and landowner from Warwickshire, who was born in 1622 and died in 1687. He is mentioned in various local records and is known to have owned substantial property in the region.

Moving into the 18th century, we find Elizabeth Elve, a prominent businesswoman from London, who was born in 1712 and died in 1785. She owned a successful textile business and was known for her entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen.

Finally, in the 19th century, there was George Elve, a British soldier and explorer who was born in 1824 and died in 1898. He served in the British Army and is known for his expeditions and explorations in Africa, where he documented his encounters with various tribes and cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Elve

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

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 Elve 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!