Rivette
A French surname derived from a diminutive of the French word "rivière" meaning "little river."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 823 Americans carry the last name Rivette. That puts it at #32,123 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.24 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 416,469 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Rivette surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
823
1 in 416,469
Census rank
#32,123
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
718
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 718 bearers of the surname Rivette in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.24 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 32123rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Rivette, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.1%. The next largest groups are Black (9.6%) and Hispanic (2.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Rivette
The surname Rivette originates from France, where it first emerged in the Middle Ages around the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "rivette," which refers to a small stream or river, indicating that the name likely originated from someone who lived near a watercourse.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rivette can be found in the 13th-century cartulary of the Abbey of Saint-Bénigne in Dijon, which mentions a certain "Petrus de Rivetta." This suggests that the name may have originated in the Burgundy region of eastern France.
During the medieval period, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Rivette, Rivete, Rivet, and Rivette. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and scribal errors in record-keeping.
Notable historical figures with the surname Rivette include Jean Rivette (1928-2016), a renowned French film director and screenwriter who was a key figure in the French New Wave cinema movement. His films, such as "La Religieuse" (1966) and "Celine and Julie Go Boating" (1974), were highly influential and celebrated for their experimental and unconventional storytelling techniques.
Another prominent individual was Henri Rivette (1827-1892), a French architect who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Palais du Trocadéro, which was constructed for the 1878 World's Fair.
In the literary world, Jacques Rivette (1886-1925) was a French writer and poet known for his works exploring themes of love and nature. His collection of poems, "Les Soirs d'Orée," published in 1911, received critical acclaim.
Historically, the name Rivette has also been associated with certain place names in France. For example, the village of Rivette in the department of Somme may have contributed to the surname's origins.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name outside of France is found in the 17th century, when Jean Rivette (1611-1672), a French Jesuit missionary, traveled to Canada and established missions among the indigenous populations.
Throughout its history, the surname Rivette has maintained a strong presence in France, although it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and descendants of French ancestors.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Rivette
Among Census respondents with the surname Rivette, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.1%. The next largest groups are Black (9.6%) and Hispanic (2.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Rivette bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Rivette surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White85.1%
- Black or African American9.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.8%
- Two or more races1.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Rivette surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #32,123 | #32,123 | 0.0% |
| Count | 718 | 718 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Rivette bearers went from 718 to 718 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #32,123 to #32,123.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Rivette
FAQ
Rivette surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Rivette?
The surname Rivette holds position #32,123 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 823 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.24 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Rivette surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Rivette, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.1%. The next largest groups are Black (9.6%) and Hispanic (2.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.