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

Sprauve, 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 Sprauve surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sprauve in America

Sprauve is the 120901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sprauve surname appeared 143 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 Sprauve.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sprauve 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 Sprauve

The surname Sprauve is believed to have originated in the Normandy region of France during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old French words "esprevé" or "esprevure," which referred to a type of wild falcon or hawk. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname given to individuals who were involved in falconry or hunting with birds of prey.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sprauve can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and population compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "de Espreveur," which supports the theory of its Norman origins.

In the 13th century, there are records of individuals bearing variations of the name, such as "Sprevour" and "Sprevur," residing in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. This indicates that the name had spread beyond its initial Norman roots and had become established in other regions of the British Isles.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Sprauve was Sir Richard Sprauve, a knight who fought alongside Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century. He was born around 1310 and died in 1372. Another individual of note was John Sprauve, a wealthy merchant from Bristol who lived from 1425 to 1492 and was involved in the lucrative wool trade.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Sprauve underwent further variations in spelling, including "Sprawe," "Sprauwe," and "Sprowe." These variations can be found in parish records and other historical documents from various parts of England and Wales.

In the late 17th century, the name appears to have been associated with a family of landowners in the county of Hertfordshire. One member of this family, William Sprauve (1650-1718), was a prominent lawyer and served as a Justice of the Peace for several years.

Moving into the 18th century, there are records of individuals with the surname Sprauve serving in the British military. Captain James Sprauve (1710-1778) was a naval officer who distinguished himself during the Seven Years' War, while Lieutenant Robert Sprauve (1735-1802) fought in the American Revolutionary War.

As the name spread across the British Isles and beyond, it underwent further variations in spelling and pronunciation, reflecting the diverse linguistic and cultural influences of different regions. However, the core elements of the name, rooted in its Norman and falconry origins, have persisted throughout its long and fascinating history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sprauve

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

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

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

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