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

Given, 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 Given surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Given in America

Given is the 8784th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Given surname appeared 3,733 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 Given.

We can also compare 2010 data for Given 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 Given

The surname Given is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest recorded examples dating back to the late 13th century. It is thought to have derived from the old English word "gifan," meaning "to give" or "to bestow." This suggests that the name may have been originally used as an occupational surname for someone who worked as a gift-giver or distributor.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Given was John Given, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297. The name also appeared in various other historical records from the 14th and 15th centuries, including the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield and the Register of the Freemen of York.

The Given surname is believed to have been particularly prominent in the northern counties of England, such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. Some early variations of the spelling included Giffyn, Giffin, and Giffan, which may have been influenced by local dialects or scribal errors.

In the 16th century, the surname Given was associated with several notable individuals, including Robert Given (c. 1570-1637), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge. Another notable bearer of the name was John Given (1594-1647), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury during the reign of King Charles I.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Given surname spread across various parts of Britain and Ireland. One prominent figure was William Given (1633-1693), an Irish Presbyterian minister and author who played a significant role in the establishment of Presbyterianism in Ireland.

In the 19th century, the surname Given was further dispersed through migration and settlement in various parts of the world, including North America and Australia. Notable individuals from this period include William Bowie Given (1807-1884), an American politician and lawyer who served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas.

Throughout its history, the surname Given has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, including clergymen, politicians, academics, and military personnel. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since become established in various parts of the world, reflecting the mobility and adaptability of its bearers across different cultures and societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Given

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

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

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

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