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

Ivory, 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 Ivory surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ivory in America

Ivory is the 4893rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ivory surname appeared 7,201 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Ivory.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ivory 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 Ivory

The surname Ivory is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "ifer," meaning ivory or elephant tusk, indicating a connection to the trade or craft involving these materials.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Iverius" and "Ivert." This suggests that variations of the name were present in England during the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the name was found in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it was spelled as "Ivori." This spelling closely resembles the modern form of the surname.

The name Ivory was also associated with certain place names in England, such as Ivry in Buckinghamshire and Ivry in Normandy, France. These locations may have influenced the surname's development and spread.

Notable individuals with the surname Ivory throughout history include:

1. James Ivory (born 1928), an American film director and producer known for his work in the Merchant Ivory Productions, including films like "A Room with a View" and "Howards End."

2. Thomas Ivory (1765-1834), an English mathematician and writer on the subject of elliptic integrals and the theory of attractions.

3. William Ivory (1819-1889), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton from 1868 to 1880.

4. John Ivory (1779-1859), a Scottish minister and author who wrote extensively on biblical subjects and theology.

5. Andrew Ivory (born 1932), a Scottish professional golfer who won the British Masters in 1966 and played on the European Tour.

The surname Ivory has a rich history dating back to the medieval era, with connections to the trade and craft of ivory materials, as well as associations with various place names in England and Normandy. Its presence in historical records and the lives of notable individuals demonstrate its enduring legacy over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ivory

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

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

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

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