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

Rivière, 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 Rivière surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rivière in America

Rivière is the 22618th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rivière surname appeared 1,135 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 Rivière.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rivière 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 Rivière

The surname Riviere originated in France and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the French word "rivière," which means river or stream. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a river or worked as a fisherman or boatman.

The Riviere name was particularly prominent in the northern regions of France, such as Normandy and Brittany. Early records show variations in spelling, including Rivieres, Rivier, and Rivyers.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded landholders in England after the Norman Conquest. The name is listed as "Riviere" and is associated with holdings in various counties.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Jean de Riviere (c. 1240-1314) served as a French diplomat and advisor to King Philip IV. He played a crucial role in the trials against the Knights Templar.

Another prominent individual was Pierre Rivière (1615-1653), a French Catholic priest and writer who authored works on the spiritual life and devotional practices.

During the 17th century, François Rivière (1628-1714) was a French painter known for his portraits and historical scenes. He worked for several European courts and was a member of the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture.

In the 19th century, Henriette Rivière (1805-1871) was a French writer and feminist who advocated for women's rights and education. Her works included novels and essays on social issues.

Lastly, Théodore Rivière (1857-1912) was a French explorer and naturalist who conducted expeditions in Africa and Southeast Asia. He contributed significantly to the knowledge of the flora and fauna in these regions.

The Riviere surname has a long and rich history, with bearers hailing from various walks of life, including diplomats, artists, writers, and explorers. Its origin can be traced back to the medieval period in France, where it was closely associated with the proximity to rivers and streams.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rivière

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

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

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

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