Trevor
A surname derived from a place name in Brittany, France.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 823 Americans carry the last name Trevor. That puts it at #32,900 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.24 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 416,469 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Trevor 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
823
1 in 416,469
Census rank
#32,900
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
697
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 697 bearers of the surname Trevor in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.24 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 32900th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Trevor, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Black (4.0%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Trevor
The surname Trevor is believed to have originated in Wales during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old Welsh words "tref" meaning town or settlement, and "rhiw" meaning slope or hill. Thus, the name Trevor likely referred to someone who lived in a town located on a hillside or sloping area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Trevor can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Trevour" or "Trevaur". This suggests that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
During the Middle Ages, the Trevor family was based primarily in the Welsh county of Denbighshire, with their ancestral home being Trevor Hall near the village of Trevalyn. The Trevors were a prominent family in the region and held significant landholdings and influence.
In the 14th century, a notable figure with the surname Trevor was John Trevor, who served as the Bishop of St Asaph from 1349 to 1357. Another notable individual was Sir John Trevor (1637-1718), a Welsh judge and politician who served as the Speaker of the House of Commons from 1685 to 1687.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Trevor family expanded their influence and landholdings, with several members holding prominent positions in the British government and military. One notable figure was Thomas Trevor (1658-1730), who served as the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1718 until his death.
Another influential individual was Arthur Hill-Trevor (1695-1768), who was created the 1st Viscount Dungannon in 1766. His grandson, Arthur Hill-Trevor (1763-1837), served as the Governor of Virginia from 1797 to 1805 and later became the 3rd Viscount Dungannon.
In more recent times, notable individuals with the surname Trevor include the American actor and comedian Bob Trevor (1918-2003), as well as the British actor and director John Trevor (1937-2017).
Overall, the surname Trevor has a long and rich history, with its origins rooted in the Welsh countryside and its prominence spanning across various fields, including politics, law, and the arts.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Trevor
Among Census respondents with the surname Trevor, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Black (4.0%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Trevor 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 Trevor surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.5%
- Black or African American4.0%
- Hispanic or Latino1.7%
- Two or more races1.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Trevor 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 | #32,900 | #32,900 | 0.0% |
| Count | 697 | 697 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Trevor bearers went from 697 to 697 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #32,900 to #32,900.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Trevor
FAQ
Trevor surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Trevor?
The surname Trevor holds position #32,900 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 823 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.24 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Trevor surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Trevor, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Black (4.0%) and Hispanic (1.7%). 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.