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

Spivey, 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 Spivey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Spivey in America

Spivey is the 1702nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Spivey surname appeared 21,161 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 7 people would have the surname Spivey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Spivey 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 Spivey

The surname Spivey originates from England and dates back to the early medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "spiwi," which means a small bird or sparrow. The name may have initially been a descriptive nickname given to someone who was small or had a bird-like appearance.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of lands and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are records of individuals with the name Spivey or similar spellings such as Spyveye and Spyvie. These early records suggest the name was present in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1198, where a Robert Spivey is mentioned. Another notable early reference is in the Assize Rolls of Somerset from 1243, which mention a William Spyvie.

The name Spivey is also associated with certain place names in England. For example, the village of Spivey in Somerset may have derived its name from individuals bearing the surname Spivey who lived in the area.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Spivey:

1. Sir Thomas Spivey (born around 1480, died 1545) was an English politician and Member of Parliament for Bristol during the reign of Henry VIII.

2. John Spivey (born around 1620, died 1679) was an English sailor and explorer who participated in several voyages to the West Indies and the Caribbean.

3. Elizabeth Spivey (born around 1730, died 1807) was an English author and poet known for her work "The Poetic Garland," published in 1776.

4. William Spivey (born 1795, died 1862) was a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including St. Pancras Church.

5. Henry Spivey (born 1828, died 1904) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a judge in Georgia and was involved in the Civil War as a Confederate soldier.

While the surname Spivey has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonization. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period and the Old English language, reflecting the rich history and evolution of surnames in England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Spivey

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

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

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

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