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

Niver, 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 Niver surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Niver in America

Niver is the 28618th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Niver surname appeared 833 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 Niver.

We can also compare 2010 data for Niver 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 Niver

The surname Niver has its origins in France, with the earliest records dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "nivere," which referred to a stretch of land along a river or stream. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who lived or worked near such bodies of water.

One of the earliest known references to the name Niver can be found in a manuscript from the Abbey of Saint-Denis near Paris, dated around 1180. The document mentions a certain "Robert le Niver," indicating that the name was already in use during this time period.

In the 13th century, the name appears to have spread to other regions of France, with records showing variations such as "Nivers" and "Nivere." These alternate spellings likely emerged due to regional dialects and differences in pronunciation.

During the 14th century, the name Niver gained further prominence, particularly in the northern regions of France. One notable figure from this era was Jean Niver (1312-1378), a wealthy merchant and landowner from the city of Amiens. His descendants continued to use the surname for several generations, establishing the Niver family as a respected and influential lineage.

In the 15th century, the name Niver appeared in the records of the Duchy of Burgundy, where a certain Guillaume Niver (1428-1498) served as a councilor to the Duke. This suggests that the name had spread beyond its original northern French origins and was now associated with individuals of notable social standing.

Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, the Niver surname continued to be found across various regions of France, with individuals bearing this name working in diverse professions, including agriculture, trade, and even the clergy. One notable example is Claude Niver (1569-1642), a renowned theologian and author from the city of Lyon.

As the centuries progressed, the Niver surname expanded beyond the borders of France, with descendants migrating to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas. Today, the name can be found in various countries around the world, a testament to its enduring legacy and the far-reaching journeys of those who carried it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Niver

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

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

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

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