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

Nevills, 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 Nevills surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nevills in America

Nevills is the 32031st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nevills surname appeared 720 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 Nevills.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nevills 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 Nevills

The surname Nevills originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old French word "neveu," meaning "nephew." It is believed that the name was initially a descriptive nickname given to the nephew of a prominent individual or to someone who was under the protection of a superior.

The earliest records of the Nevills surname date back to the 12th century, with several references found in the Domesday Book of 1086. One notable entry mentions a landowner named Nevelinus, who held lands in Lincolnshire. This suggests that the name was already in use before the Norman Conquest of 1066.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Nevills family rose to prominence in northern England, particularly in Yorkshire and Durham. They were a powerful noble family with extensive landholdings and influence. One of the most famous members was Ralph Nevill, the 1st Earl of Westmorland (c. 1364-1425), who played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses.

Another notable figure was Richard Nevill, the 16th Earl of Warwick (1428-1471), also known as the "Kingmaker." He was a prominent military commander and influential figure during the latter part of the Wars of the Roses. His actions and alliances played a crucial role in the eventual accession of Edward IV to the English throne.

In the 15th century, the Nevills surname was also associated with the Nevill family of Raby Castle in County Durham. This branch produced several distinguished individuals, including John Nevill, 3rd Baron Nevill of Raby (c. 1510-1542), and his son, Ralph Nevill, 4th Earl of Westmorland (c. 1521-1570), who led the Rising of the North rebellion against Queen Elizabeth I in 1569.

The Nevills surname was also found in various place names throughout England, such as Neville's Cross in County Durham, which was named after the Battle of Neville's Cross in 1346, where the English forces led by Ralph Nevill defeated the Scots.

Over time, the surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Neville, Nevile, Nevyll, and Nevyll. Despite the changes in spelling, the name has retained its historical significance and continues to be associated with the influential Nevill family of medieval England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nevills

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

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

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

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