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

Nephew, 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 Nephew surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nephew in America

Nephew is the 21288th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nephew surname appeared 1,231 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 Nephew.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nephew 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 Nephew

The surname NEPHEW is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "neveu," meaning "nephew" or "grandchild." This term likely emerged as a descriptive name or nickname for an individual who was the nephew or grandchild of a prominent person within a family or community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname NEPHEW can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire from the late 12th century, where a certain "William le Neveu" was mentioned. This early spelling variation, "le Neveu," further supports the surname's French origins and its subsequent adoption in England.

During the 13th century, the surname began to appear in various medieval records and documents, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, which referenced a "Richard le Neveu" in 1273. The Feet of Fines for Essex from 1292 also mentioned a "John le Nevu," further illustrating the surname's evolution and variations in spelling.

Notable individuals bearing the NEPHEW surname include Sir John Nephew, a prominent lawyer and Member of Parliament who lived during the reign of King Henry VIII in the early 16th century. Another individual of note was Robert Nephew, a respected merchant and alderman of the City of London, who was born in 1580 and played a significant role in the city's governance during the 17th century.

In the realm of literature, the surname NEPHEW gained recognition through the works of the English poet and playwright William Nephew, who was born in 1665 and is best known for his satirical verses and plays. Additionally, the historian and antiquarian John Nephew, born in 1712, made valuable contributions to the study of English antiquities and local history.

Moving forward to the 18th century, one cannot overlook the achievements of Sir William Nephew, a renowned naval officer and explorer who was born in 1740 and played a crucial role in charting the coastlines of the Pacific Ocean during his voyages with Captain James Cook.

Throughout its history, the surname NEPHEW has maintained a presence across various parts of England, particularly in counties such as Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Oxfordshire, where many of the early records of the name can be found. While its origins can be traced back to the medieval period, the surname has endured and continues to be carried by families worldwide, serving as a testament to its rich historical legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nephew

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

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

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

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