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

Scrivner, 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 Scrivner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Scrivner in America

Scrivner is the 12264th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Scrivner surname appeared 2,536 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Scrivner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Scrivner 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 Scrivner

The surname Scrivner has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "scrifan," meaning "to write" or "to inscribe." The name likely originated as an occupational surname, referring to individuals who worked as scribes or writers, often employed by churches, monasteries, or wealthy patrons.

In the early days, scribes were highly skilled individuals who meticulously transcribed religious texts, legal documents, and literary works by hand. The Scrivner surname would have been given to those who excelled in this profession, recognizing their expertise in calligraphy and their ability to preserve knowledge through written records.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Scrivner name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Scrivener," "Scrivener," and "Scriveyn," reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings during that era.

Notable individuals bearing the Scrivner surname throughout history include John Scrivener (c. 1550-1615), an English printer and publisher known for his work on the Geneva Bible and other religious texts. Another prominent figure was Richard Scrivener (1613-1698), a Church of England clergyman and scholar who contributed to the study of biblical manuscripts and textual criticism.

In the 16th century, the Scrivner name was associated with the village of Scrivener's Hatch in Kent, England. This place name likely derived from the occupation of scribes or writers who lived and worked in the area, further solidifying the connection between the surname and the scribal profession.

Other notable individuals with the Scrivner surname include Henry Scrivener (1776-1841), an English architect responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in London, and Frederick Scrivener (1813-1891), a Church of England clergyman and biblical scholar who made significant contributions to the study of New Testament manuscripts.

Throughout the centuries, the Scrivner surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including writers, scholars, clergymen, and professionals in various fields. While the occupation of scribes has evolved over time, the surname remains a testament to the historical importance of preserving knowledge and communication through the written word.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Scrivner

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

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

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

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