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

Tarver, 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 Tarver surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tarver in America

Tarver is the 3788th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tarver surname appeared 9,341 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Tarver.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tarver 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 Tarver

The surname Tarver is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the 11th century during the Norman Conquest of England. The name is thought to be derived from the Old French word "tervour," which means "a digger" or "a worker of the soil." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name were likely involved in agricultural pursuits or worked as laborers on the land.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, one of the earliest comprehensive records of landowners and tenants in England, there are several entries that may be related to the Tarver surname, such as "Tervere" and "Tervour." These entries indicate that individuals with similar names were present in various parts of the country, including Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, and Oxfordshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Tarver surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1195, where a certain "Roger Tarvour" is mentioned. This entry provides evidence of the surname's existence in the late 12th century.

Over time, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Tarvour, Tarver, Tarvar, and Tarvere. These variations were likely influenced by local dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping practices during the Middle Ages.

In the 14th century, the Tarver surname appeared in several historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which listed a "John Tarvere." Additionally, the Hearth Tax Rolls of Warwickshire from 1674 recorded a "William Tarver" residing in the town of Coventry.

Among the notable individuals bearing the Tarver surname throughout history are:

1. Sir John Tarver (c. 1540-1615), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

2. Thomas Tarver (1638-1701), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious texts, including "The Creed of an Honest Man."

3. Edward Tarver (1768-1845), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the Navalorder for his distinguished service.

4. William Tarver (1809-1887), an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Representative from Georgia in the 34th Congress.

5. Janie Tarver (1886-1978), an American singer and actress who performed on Broadway and in various vaudeville shows in the early 20th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tarver

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

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

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

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