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

Kirven, 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 Kirven surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kirven in America

Kirven is the 18385th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kirven surname appeared 1,506 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 Kirven.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kirven 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 Kirven

The surname Kirven is of English origin, with its roots traceable back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the village of Kirven, located in the county of Staffordshire, England. The name is derived from the Old English words "cirice" meaning church and "fen" meaning fen or marsh, indicating that the original bearers of this surname likely resided near a church situated in a marshy area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kirven can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire, dating back to 1243, where a certain William de Kyrefen is mentioned. This document provides evidence that the name was already in use during that time period.

In the 14th century, records show the name appearing in various forms, such as Kirvene and Kyrvene, reflecting the variations in spelling that were common in those times. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 contains an entry for a Robert de Kirevene, suggesting the widespread use of the name across different regions of England.

The Kirven surname also finds mention in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This historical document references a landowner named Radulfus Kervene, indicating the ancient roots of the name.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Kirven surname. One of the earliest recorded is Sir John Kirven, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in the late 14th century. Another notable figure was William Kirven, a successful merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 16th century, born in 1522 and passing away in 1587.

The 17th century saw the rise of Thomas Kirven, a renowned scholar and clergyman who served as the Rector of Hartlebury in Worcestershire. He was born in 1612 and died in 1683. In the 18th century, James Kirven, a prominent architect, left his mark on the city of Bath with his iconic Georgian-style buildings, having lived from 1738 to 1804.

One of the most notable bearers of the Kirven surname in recent history was Sir Henry Kirven, a distinguished military officer and diplomat who served as the British Ambassador to Spain in the early 20th century. He was born in 1857 and passed away in 1935.

The Kirven surname has a rich history spanning centuries, with its origins firmly rooted in the English countryside. Despite the variations in spelling over time, the name has endured and continues to be carried by individuals across generations, each leaving their unique mark on the tapestry of history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kirven

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

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

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

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