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

Scrivener, 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 Scrivener surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Scrivener in America

Scrivener is the 29918th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Scrivener surname appeared 785 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 Scrivener.

We can also compare 2010 data for Scrivener 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 Scrivener

The surname Scrivener originated in England during the early medieval period. It is an occupational name derived from the Old French word "escrivein" or the Latin "scribanus", meaning a scribe or copyist. These scribes were highly skilled professionals who transcribed texts and legal documents in an era when literacy was rare.

The earliest recorded instances of the Scrivener surname can be traced back to the late 12th century. In the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1186, there is a reference to a "Robert le Scrivein". Similarly, the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1200 mention a "Walter le Scrivein". These early spellings highlight the French influence on the name's origins.

By the 13th century, the surname had spread across various regions of England. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 record a "Richard le Scryveyn" in Oxfordshire, while the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275 list a "William le Scrivener". The use of "le" before the surname denotes its occupational nature.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Scrivener name was Thomas Scrivener, a prominent writer and translator from the late 15th century. He was born around 1460 and is best known for his English translation of the Latin text "De Re Militari" by Roberto Valturio.

During the Tudor period, the Scrivener surname gained further prominence. Henry Scrivener (c.1504-1553) was a prominent English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Norwich. He played a significant role in the English Reformation and was a staunch supporter of Protestant reforms.

In the 17th century, Matthew Scrivener (1616-1698) was a renowned Bible translator and scholar. He worked on revising the King James Bible and published an edition of the New Testament in 1656, which became known as the "Scrivener's Cambridge Bible".

Another notable figure was Ralph Scrivener (1615-1676), an English politician and member of Oliver Cromwell's Barebones Parliament. He held several important positions during the Interregnum period, including being a member of the Council of State.

The 18th century saw the rise of Thomas Scrivener (1744-1820), a prominent English architect and surveyor. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the East India House and the Founders' Hall at Christ's Hospital.

Throughout its history, the Scrivener surname has maintained its connection to professions involving writing, transcription, and document handling. While its origins can be traced back to medieval scribes, the name has evolved to encompass various occupations related to the written word.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Scrivener

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

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

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

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