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

Riven, 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 Riven surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Riven in America

Riven is the 148244th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Riven surname appeared 102 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Riven.

The history of the last name Riven

The surname Riven has its roots primarily in England, tracing back to its emergence in the early medieval period. The name likely originated in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, regions in the northern part of England. Linguistically, it is believed to be derived from the Old English word "rifen," which means "to be torn" or "split." Alternate spellings throughout history include Rivon, Ryven, and Reuven, indicating regional phonetic variations over time.

The surname Riven first appears in written records in the late 12th century. One of the earliest recorded references is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dating to 1185, where a Thomas Ryven is mentioned. These rolls were records kept by the Exchequer, detailing the financial and judicial matters of the kingdom. This document provides crucial evidence of the surname's early presence in England.

A significant historical reference to the surname Riven can be found in the Subsidy Rolls, a form of taxation record, from Worcestershire in 1327. Here, William Ryven is listed as a taxpayer. This indicates that the surname had by this time spread beyond its initial geographic distribution, reaching further areas within England.

One notable bearer of the surname Riven was Sir John Riven (1365–1422), a knight who served under King Henry V during the Hundred Years' War. His name appears in several military rolls and dispatches, underlining the surname's presence within the English chivalric class. Additionally, the court records of 1437 mention a Margaret Riven, widow in Durham, highlighting the name's persistence across different societal layers.

The surname also features in parish registers, which began to be standardly kept from the 16th century onward. For instance, the baptismal record of Elizabeth Riven in 1578 can be found at St. Nicholas' Church in Newcastle upon Tyne, providing further evidence of the surname's continuity and distribution.

In 1623, Gabriel Riven, an influential merchant in London, is listed among the members of the Worshipful Company of Mercers, one of the livery companies of the City of London. His membership signifies the surname's association with the burgeoning trade and commerce sectors during the early 17th century, a period marked by significant economic expansion and development in England.

The surname Riven thus encapsulates a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution, geographic spread, and social integration, deeply embedded within the historical narrative of medieval and early modern England. Its varying mentions across financial, military, and ecclesiastical records illustrate the name's enduring presence and the diverse contexts in which it appeared.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Riven

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Riven 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.

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

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

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