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

Previl, 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 Previl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Previl in America

Previl is the 80926th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Previl surname appeared 234 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 Previl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Previl 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 Previl

The surname PREVIL has its origins traced back to the country of France, specifically in the northern regions of Normandy and Brittany. It is believed to have emerged during the 11th century, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 1000s.

The name is derived from the Old French words "preuve" and "ville," which translate to "proof" and "village," respectively. This suggests that the surname may have been initially associated with individuals who held positions of authority or responsibility within their local communities, perhaps serving as witnesses or adjudicators in legal matters.

Historical records indicate that the name PREVIL appeared in various medieval manuscripts and documents, including the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey commissioned by William the Conqueror to record the landholdings and wealth of England. This lends credence to the theory that the name was prominent among the Norman nobility who accompanied William during the Norman Conquest of England.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the surname PREVIL was Jean PREVIL, born in 1145 in the village of Préville, located in the Normandy region of France. Another notable figure was Robert PREVIL, who lived in the 13th century and was a knight in the service of King Louis IX (Saint Louis).

During the 14th century, the name PREVIL appeared in various records related to the Hundred Years' War between England and France. One such individual was Guillaume PREVIL, a French soldier who fought in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

In the 16th century, the PREVIL surname gained prominence in the arts and literature. Jacques PREVIL, born in 1522, was a renowned poet and playwright who contributed significantly to the French Renaissance literary movement.

Throughout history, the PREVIL name has been associated with several notable figures, including Marie PREVIL (1678-1745), a French noblewoman known for her philanthropic endeavors, and Louis PREVIL (1815-1891), a French painter and artist who was part of the Barbizon school of painting.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Previl

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

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

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

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