Givins last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Givins

An English surname derived from a medieval given name, possibly meaning "fortunate gift".

Givins, 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 Givins surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Givins in America

Givins is the 71478th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Givins surname appeared 273 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 Givins.

We can also compare 2010 data for Givins 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 71478 51233 33.00%
Count 273 382 -33.28%
Proportion per 100k 0.09 0.14 -43.48%

The history of the last name Givins

The surname Givins is of English origin, with its roots dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "gifan," meaning "to give." This name was likely given to someone who was known for their generosity or charitable nature.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Givins can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1182, where it was spelled as "Gyvyn." This spelling variation suggests that the name may have been derived from a place name or a geographical location, as was common during that time period.

In the 13th century, the surname was found in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it appeared as "Gyvyn." This document was a survey of landholdings and populations in different counties, indicating that the Givins family had established themselves across England.

One notable historical figure with the surname Givins was Sir William Givins, a member of the English gentry who lived in the late 16th century. He was a landowner in Gloucestershire and played a role in local governance during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent individual was John Givins, born in 1612, who was a merchant and ship owner in Bristol, England. He was involved in the lucrative transatlantic trade during the colonial era and amassed a considerable fortune through his business ventures.

In the 18th century, the surname Givins was found in various regions of England, such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. One notable bearer of the name was Thomas Givins, born in 1734, who was a clergyman and served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Nottinghamshire.

During the 19th century, the Givins family continued to spread across England, and some members even emigrated to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia. One such individual was James Givins, born in 1820, who was a pioneer settler in Ontario, Canada, and played a significant role in the development of the region.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Givins, born in 1842, who was a renowned author and poet from Yorkshire, England. Her works gained recognition for their vivid depictions of rural life and insightful social commentary.

Throughout its history, the surname Givins has been associated with various professions and social classes, from landowners and merchants to clergymen and authors. Its enduring presence across centuries and regions is a testament to the rich tapestry of English history and the diverse backgrounds of those who have carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Givins

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

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 Givins was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 31.14% 85
Non-Hispanic Black Only 65.57% 179
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.83% 5
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Givins has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 31.14% 26.70% 15.35%
Black 65.57% 69.37% -5.63%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% 0.00% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.83% 2.62% -35.51%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

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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!

"Givins last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/givins-surname-popularity/.

"Givins last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/givins-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Givins last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/givins-surname-popularity/.

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