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

River, 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 River surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of River in America

River is the 26313th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The River surname appeared 928 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 River.

We can also compare 2010 data for River 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 River

The surname River is an English toponymic name derived from the Old English word "rīfer" or "rīfr," meaning a stream or a river. It is believed to have originated in areas near significant rivers or waterways in England during the Middle Ages.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname River can be traced back to the 13th century in various county records and medieval manuscripts. One notable example is the Assize Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1272, which mention a John de la Rivere.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a reference to a Thomas atte Rivere residing in Oxfordshire. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the surname from its original Old English roots to a more modernized form.

During the 14th century, the River surname appears in various tax records and land deeds, indicating its prevalence among families residing near prominent rivers or streams. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379 list a Robert del Ryver, while the Hertfordshire Subsidy Rolls of 1381 mention a John atte River.

The surname River has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded figures was Sir John River, a 14th-century English knight who fought alongside Edward III in the Hundred Years' War. Another prominent figure was Thomas River, a 16th-century English scholar and theologian who served as the Dean of Windsor from 1562 to 1568.

In the 17th century, the River surname gained prominence with Sir William River, an English politician and Member of Parliament for Colchester from 1628 to 1629. Later, in the 19th century, John River (1776-1849) was a renowned English painter known for his landscapes and seascapes.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname River was the American actor and comedian River Phoenix (1970-1993), whose tragic death at a young age made him a cultural icon.

Throughout its history, the surname River has been associated with various place names and geographic locations, reflecting its origins as a toponymic name. Some examples include River Farm in Hertfordshire, River Head in Yorkshire, and River Green in Surrey.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name River

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

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

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

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