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

Givens, 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 Givens surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Givens in America

Givens is the 1419th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Givens surname appeared 25,067 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname Givens.

We can also compare 2010 data for Givens 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 Givens

The surname Givens has its origins in England and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English given, meaning "to give." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, referring to someone who was a giver or bestower of gifts or benefactions.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical records from the 13th century onwards. For example, the Hundred Rolls of 1273 mention a Robert le Givene from Oxfordshire. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 also reference a John Gevene from Worcestershire. These early spellings highlight the variations that existed in the name's orthography before it standardized to its current form.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir John Giffard Givens, a knight who fought alongside King Edward III in the Battle of Crécy during the Hundred Years' War in 1346. His valor and service to the crown were recognized, and his family's coat of arms featured a lion rampant on a field of azure, symbolizing courage and strength.

Another notable figure was Thomas Givens, a merchant and alderman from the city of London, who lived in the late 15th century. He was a prominent figure in the city's mercantile community and played a vital role in establishing trade connections with the Hanseatic League cities of Northern Europe.

In the 16th century, the name Givens can be found in various historical documents, including the Muster Rolls of 1539, which list several men with this surname serving in the English armies. One such individual was Robert Givens, who fought in the Anglo-Scottish Wars under King Henry VIII.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a prominent figure bearing the name Givens was Colonel William Givens, a Parliamentarian officer who fought for the Roundheads against the Royalist forces of King Charles I. He was commended for his bravery and leadership in several battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645.

In the literary world, the name Givens is associated with the English poet and playwright John Givens, who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He is best known for his satirical works that critiqued the social and political climate of his time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Givens

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

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

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

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