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

Lovin, 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 Lovin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lovin in America

Lovin is the 15508th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lovin surname appeared 1,887 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 Lovin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lovin 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 Lovin

The surname Lovin originated in Ireland, where it is believed to have first appeared in the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "lobhain," meaning "little lame person" or "crippled person." This suggests that the name may have been originally given as a nickname or descriptive term for someone with a physical disability.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Lovin can be found in medieval Irish annals and manuscripts. For example, the Annals of Ulster mention a "Gilla na Naem O'Lovin" in the year 1347, indicating that the name was in use in that region by the mid-14th century.

In the 16th century, the name Lovin is found in the Fiants of the Tudor Monarchy, which were records of official letters, grants, and pardons issued by the English Crown in Ireland. This suggests that the Lovin family had established themselves as a prominent clan or sept in certain parts of Ireland during this period.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Lovin was Domhnall O'Lovin, a 15th-century Irish poet and historian from County Mayo. His works, which included poetic compositions and genealogical records, are considered valuable sources for understanding the history and culture of medieval Ireland.

Another notable figure with the surname Lovin was Edmond Lovin, a 17th-century Irish soldier who fought for the Catholic Confederacy during the Irish Confederate Wars (1641–1653). He is mentioned in contemporary accounts for his role in several battles and sieges against the English Parliamentarian forces.

In the 18th century, the Lovin name appears in various land records and parish registers throughout Ireland, particularly in counties Mayo, Sligo, and Galway. This suggests that the family had established roots in these regions over the centuries.

One prominent Lovin from this period was Patrick Lovin (1718–1792), a Catholic landowner and merchant from County Mayo. He played a significant role in the local community and was involved in various civic affairs and charitable endeavors.

As the Lovin family spread to other parts of Ireland and beyond, variations in the spelling of the name emerged, such as Lovain, Lovane, and Leven. Some branches of the family may have also adopted anglicized versions of the name, such as Lovett or Loveday, to better assimilate into English-speaking communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lovin

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

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

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

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