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

Irven, 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 Irven surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Irven in America

Irven is the 114424th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Irven surname appeared 153 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 Irven.

We can also compare 2010 data for Irven 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 Irven

The surname Irven is of Scottish origin, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the parish of Irving, located in Dumfriesshire. The name is derived from the old Gaelic words "ìr" meaning green, and "innis" meaning island or meadow, essentially translating to "green island" or "green meadow."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the ancient Scottish manuscript known as the Ragman Rolls, which dates back to 1296. This document lists several individuals bearing the name Irwin or Irvine, suggesting that these were early spellings of the surname.

The name Irven has undergone various spelling variations throughout history, including Irwin, Irvine, Ervin, and Erwin. These variations can be attributed to the differences in pronunciation and the influence of regional dialects across Scotland and other parts of the British Isles.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Irven was William Irven (1606-1674), a Scottish minister who served as the Principal of the University of Glasgow from 1650 to 1654. Another prominent individual was Christopher Irven (1717-1786), a Scottish merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the development of the city of Glasgow.

In the 17th century, the Irven family established themselves in the Scottish Borders region, particularly in the areas of Dumfriesshire and Roxburghshire. One member of this family, Robert Irven (1645-1718), was a notable landowner and local magistrate in the town of Jedburgh.

The Irvens also had a presence in the Scottish Lowlands, with several members holding positions of importance in the church and local government. John Irven (1730-1804), a minister in the Church of Scotland, served as the Moderator of the General Assembly in 1796.

Another notable figure was General Sir Alexander Irven (1786-1861), a British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became the Governor of the Cape Colony in South Africa from 1847 to 1852.

While the Irven surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration and migration. Over time, the name has become associated with various professions, from clergy and landowners to merchants and military personnel, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of those who have carried this surname throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Irven

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

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

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

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