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

Reiver, 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 Reiver surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Reiver in America

Reiver is the 139228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Reiver surname appeared 120 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 Reiver.

We can also compare 2010 data for Reiver 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 Reiver

The surname "REIVER" is of English origin, derived from the Middle English word "rever" or "reaver", meaning a robber or plunderer. This name has its roots in the border regions between England and Scotland, particularly in the area known as the Anglo-Scottish Borders.

During the 13th to 17th centuries, this region was notorious for the activities of marauding bands of raiders and cattle thieves known as "Border Reivers". These individuals would regularly conduct raids and engage in violent clashes, often crossing the border to plunder the lands and resources of their neighbors. The surname "REIVER" likely originated from individuals or families who were involved in these activities or were associated with the Border Reiver culture.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the "Testamenta Eboracensia" (Wills of York) from the late 14th century, where a "William Rever" is mentioned. In the 16th century, a "John Rever" is listed among the Border Reivers in the "Border Papers" of the English Crown.

Historically, the name has been spelled in various ways, including "Reever", "Reaver", and "Rever". It is also possible that the name is derived from or influenced by certain place names in the border regions, such as the village of Reveley in Northumberland.

Notable individuals with the surname "REIVER" include:

1. Sir Walter Reiver (c. 1590 - 1660), an English landowner and Member of Parliament during the English Civil War.
2. Thomas Reiver (1612 - 1684), an English clergyman and author of several religious works.
3. James Reiver (1743 - 1823), a Scottish-born soldier who served in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Canada.
4. Sarah Reiver (1818 - 1892), an English writer and poet known for her works on rural life and nature.
5. William Reiver (1856 - 1934), a British architect and designer who contributed to the revival of the Arts and Crafts movement in the late 19th century.

While the surname "REIVER" may have originated from a somewhat turbulent and lawless past, it has since become a part of the rich cultural heritage of the Anglo-Scottish Borders and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Reiver

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

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

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

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