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

Geneva, 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 Geneva surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Geneva in America

Geneva is the 76275th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Geneva surname appeared 252 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 Geneva.

We can also compare 2010 data for Geneva 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 Geneva

The surname Geneva originates from the city of Geneva in Switzerland. It is believed to have derived from the Celtic word 'genawa' meaning a bend or curve, referring to the curve of the Rhone River in the area. The earliest recorded use of the name can be traced back to the 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records and manuscripts, including the Cartulary of Savoy, where it was spelled as 'Geneve'. The city of Geneva itself was mentioned in the chronicles of the Crusades, and it was an important trading hub during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Geneva was Petrus de Geneva, a merchant from Geneva who lived in the late 13th century. In the 14th century, there was a prominent family called the Genevas who held significant influence in the city of Geneva.

During the 16th century, the name gained prominence with the rise of the Protestant Reformation. John Calvin, the influential theologian and reformer, was born in Geneva in 1509 and played a crucial role in establishing the city as a center of Protestantism. His teachings and writings had a profound impact on the spread of the reformed religion across Europe.

In the 17th century, a notable figure with the surname Geneva was Francois de Geneva, a Swiss diplomat and ambassador who represented the interests of the City of Geneva in various European courts. He was born in 1620 and played a significant role in negotiating treaties and alliances during his diplomatic career.

Another prominent individual with the surname Geneva was Marie-Louise Geneva, a renowned 18th-century artist and painter from Geneva. She was born in 1737 and gained recognition for her portraits and landscapes, which were highly sought after by the aristocracy of the time.

In the 19th century, the name became more widespread as people from Geneva emigrated to other parts of the world. One notable figure was Charles Geneva, a Swiss-American engineer and inventor born in 1825. He is credited with developing several important innovations in the field of horology and watchmaking.

Throughout its history, the surname Geneva has been associated with the city of Geneva, its rich cultural heritage, and the influential figures who have contributed to various fields, including religion, diplomacy, art, and technology.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Geneva

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

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

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

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