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

Lavender, 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 Lavender surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lavender in America

Lavender is the 4583rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lavender surname appeared 7,744 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Lavender.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lavender 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 Lavender

The surname Lavender is a locational name derived from the Old French word "lavandier," which means "a lavender seller" or "a worker who cultivated lavender." The name is believed to have originated in France during the Middle Ages.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Lavender can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of France, particularly in the southern areas where lavender was widely cultivated for its fragrant oil and medicinal properties. It is likely that the name was initially given as a descriptive term to individuals who were involved in the lavender trade or cultivation.

In England, the name Lavender appears in historical records as early as the 16th century, indicating that French settlers or immigrants brought the surname to the country. One notable example is John Lavender, a merchant who lived in London in the late 16th century and is mentioned in several commercial documents of the time.

During the 17th century, the name Lavender became more widespread in England. One prominent figure was Sir Thomas Lavender (1617-1686), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for the county of Hampshire. He was also a staunch Royalist during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, the Lavender family established themselves as prominent landowners and gentry in various parts of England. William Lavender (1745-1823), a wealthy landowner from Worcestershire, is recorded as having donated substantial funds for the construction of a church in his local community.

Another notable individual with the surname Lavender was Robert Lavender (1798-1873), a British architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in London, including the original premises of the Athenaeum Club on Pall Mall.

As the name Lavender spread across different regions and countries, it experienced various spelling variations, such as Lavendar, Lavandier, and Lavender. These variations often reflected local dialects or linguistic adaptations.

While the surname Lavender is relatively uncommon compared to some other English surnames, it has a rich historical background rooted in the trade and cultivation of the fragrant lavender plant, which was highly valued for its aromatic properties and uses in perfumes, medicines, and household products.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lavender

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

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

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

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