Sevigny
Of French origin, originally denoting someone from the town of Savigny.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,057 Americans carry the last name Sevigny. That puts it at #16,315 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.60 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 166,628 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Sevigny 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
2.1K
1 in 166,628
Census rank
#16,315
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,766 bearers of the surname Sevigny in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.60 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 16315th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Sevigny, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.0%) and Hispanic (1.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Sevigny
The surname Sevigny originated in France during the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "Sevigne," which refers to a small village or locality. The name's roots can be traced back to the northern regions of France, particularly Normandy and Brittany.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Sevigny name can be found in a 12th-century document from the Duchy of Normandy. This document mentions a nobleman named Raoul de Sevigne, who was granted lands near the village of the same name for his service to the Duke.
In the 13th century, the name Sevigny appeared in several manuscripts and records related to the French nobility. One notable figure was Jean de Sevigny, a knight who fought alongside King Louis IX during the Seventh Crusade in the Holy Land from 1248 to 1254.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Sevigny family gained prominence in various regions of France. In 1412, a certain Guillaume de Sevigny was appointed as the Governor of the Château de Chambord, a prestigious position at the time.
One of the most famous figures associated with the Sevigny name is Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, Marquise de Sévigné (1626-1696). She was a celebrated French aristocrat and author known for her prolific letter-writing, which provided valuable insights into the social and cultural life of 17th-century France.
Another notable person with the surname Sevigny was Jacques de Sevigny (1640-1719), a French naval officer and explorer. He served as the Governor of Newfoundland and Acadia (present-day Atlantic Canada) and played a crucial role in the colonization efforts of New France.
In the 18th century, the Sevigny family continued to hold influential positions in various parts of France. One example is Pierre-Joseph de Sevigny (1718-1790), a French nobleman and military officer who served as the Governor of Martinique, a French colony in the Caribbean.
Over the centuries, the Sevigny name has been associated with various locations and place names across France. Some examples include Sévigné (a commune in Normandy), Sévigné-sur-Sarthe (a commune in the Pays de la Loire region), and Sévigné-sur-Sarthe (a commune in the Brittany region).
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sevigny
Among Census respondents with the surname Sevigny, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.0%) and Hispanic (1.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Sevigny 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 Sevigny surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.0%
- Two or more races2.0%
- Hispanic or Latino1.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Sevigny 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 | #16,315 | #16,315 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,766 | 1,766 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.60 | 0.60 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Sevigny bearers went from 1,766 to 1,766 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #16,315 to #16,315.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Sevigny
FAQ
Sevigny surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Sevigny?
The surname Sevigny holds position #16,315 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,057 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.60 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Sevigny surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Sevigny, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.0%) and Hispanic (1.1%). 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.