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

LaFever, 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 LaFever surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of LaFever in America

LaFever is the 15060th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The LaFever surname appeared 1,960 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 LaFever.

We can also compare 2010 data for LaFever 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 LaFever

The surname LAFEVER originated in France, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "fievre," which means "fever." The name likely arose as a descriptive nickname for someone who frequently suffered from fevers or may have been associated with a medical profession related to treating fevers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LAFEVER appears in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire, England, from the late 12th century, where it was spelled "le Fevrur." This spelling variation suggests that the name may have been influenced by the Norman French settlers who came to England after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the 13th century, the LAFEVER surname can be found in various records across northern France, particularly in the regions of Normandy and Picardy. Some examples include Robert Lafievre, recorded in the Normandy Rolls of 1180-1195, and Jehan Lafievre, mentioned in the Testa de Nevill, a survey of landholdings in England compiled in 1219.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the LAFEVER surname gained prominence in the Netherlands, where it was often spelled as "La Fèvre" or "Lefèvre." One notable figure with this name was Jean Lefèvre d'Étaples (c. 1455-1537), a French scholar and theologian who played a significant role in the early stages of the Protestant Reformation.

In the 17th century, the LAFEVER surname also appeared in records from the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances is Isaac LAFEVER, who was born in New York in 1687 and is considered one of the first settlers of the LAFEVER family in America.

Other prominent individuals with the LAFEVER surname include:

1. Adolphe LAFEVER (1810-1876), a French architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in New York City.
2. John LAFEVER (1796-1863), an American architect and author of the influential book "The Modern Builder's Guide," published in 1833.
3. Robert LAFEVER (1886-1949), an American actor and film director active during the silent film era.
4. James LAFEVER (1776-1850), an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.
5. Jean-Jacques LAFEVER (1651-1711), a French sculptor and architect who worked on several prominent buildings in Paris during the reign of Louis XIV.

In summary, the surname LAFEVER has a rich history dating back to medieval France, where it originated as a descriptive nickname. Over the centuries, it has been found in various regions of Europe and has been associated with notable figures in fields such as architecture, politics, and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name LaFever

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

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

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

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