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

Narva, 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 Narva surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Narva in America

Narva is the 116829th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Narva surname appeared 149 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Narva.

We can also compare 2010 data for Narva 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 Narva

The surname Narva is of Estonian origin, originating from the city of Narva, located in the northeastern part of the country near the Russian border. The name is believed to have its roots in the Estonian word "narva," which means "grove" or "thicket."

Narva is an ancient city, with records of its existence dating back to the 13th century. It was an important trading center during the Hanseatic League era, and its strategic location made it a coveted prize for various powers throughout history. As a result, the surname Narva likely emerged among the city's residents and traders during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Narva can be found in the Liber Census Daniae (Book of the Census of Denmark) from 1660-1662, which listed several individuals with the name residing in the Baltic region. However, it is worth noting that variations in spelling, such as Narwe or Narwe, were common during this period.

Historically, the surname Narva has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest was Hans Narva (c. 1540-1615), a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Narva during the 16th century. Another notable figure was Anna Narva (1634-1709), a renowned textile artist whose intricate embroidery works adorned the homes of wealthy families in the region.

In the 18th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Joachim Narva (1710-1778), a celebrated Estonian composer and organist who served as the court musician to the Russian Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. His compositions, which blended Estonian folk melodies with Baroque and Classical styles, were highly influential in shaping the country's musical traditions.

During the 19th century, the Narva surname was further elevated by the accomplishments of Karl Narva (1835-1912), a pioneering Estonian linguist and educator. He played a crucial role in the preservation and promotion of the Estonian language, publishing numerous works on grammar and lexicography that helped establish Estonian as a literary language.

Another prominent figure bearing the Narva surname was Ida Narva (1876-1958), a renowned Estonian painter and graphic artist. Her vibrant landscapes and depictions of rural life captured the essence of Estonian culture and earned her widespread acclaim both nationally and internationally.

While the surname Narva has its origins in Estonia, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and intermarriage. Nonetheless, its deep-rooted connections to the city of Narva and the Estonian cultural heritage remain an integral part of its historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Narva

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

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

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

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