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

Severs, 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 Severs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Severs in America

Severs is the 15857th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Severs surname appeared 1,835 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 Severs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Severs 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 Severs

The surname Severs has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "sæfre," meaning "rush" or "reed," suggesting that the name's earliest bearers may have lived near areas abundant with these plants.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296, where a certain William Sefre was listed. This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during that era, as they were often adapted based on local dialects and scribes' interpretations.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, mentioning a John Sefre in 1273. This record indicates that the name had already spread across different regions of the country by this time.

The Severs surname is also linked to the place name "Seavers," a hamlet in the parish of Crowmarsh Gifford, Oxfordshire. It is likely that some individuals adopted the name based on their association with this location, further contributing to the name's diversity in spelling and pronunciation.

One notable bearer of the Severs name was Thomas Severs, a wealthy merchant from London who lived in the 16th century. His will, dated 1558, provides insights into his business dealings and estates.

Another historical figure was Edward Severs, a renowned architect born in 1826 in Buckinghamshire. He was responsible for designing several prominent buildings in London, including the Grosvenor Hotel and the Lyceum Theatre.

In the literary realm, the name is associated with Emily Severs, a 19th-century writer and poet from Yorkshire. Her works, though lesser-known today, were well-received during her lifetime, particularly her collection of sonnets published in 1864.

Richard Severs, born in 1789 in Gloucestershire, was a respected military officer who served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. He was present at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and later received commendations for his bravery.

Lastly, John Severs, a farmer from Dorset, gained notoriety in the late 18th century for his innovative agricultural practices. He introduced new crop rotation methods and was recognized for his contributions to improving farming techniques in the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Severs

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

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

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

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