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

Valentine, 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 Valentine surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Valentine in America

Valentine is the 148347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Valentine surname appeared 111 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 Valentine.

We can also compare 2010 data for Valentine 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 Valentine

The surname Valintine is believed to originate from England, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be a variation of the name Valentine, derived from the Latin name Valentinus, which means "strong" or "healthy." The name likely emerged as a surname during the medieval period, when it became common practice to adopt surnames based on personal characteristics or occupations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Valintine can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1275, where a William Valyntyn is mentioned. This early spelling variation suggests that the name was already in use and established in certain regions of England by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the Valintine surname appears in various historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John Valentyn is listed. This indicates that the name had spread to different parts of England and was being used by multiple families during this time.

The Valintine surname may also have connections to certain place names or locations within England. For instance, some records suggest a possible link to the village of Valentine in Essex, which could have influenced the spelling and adoption of the surname in that region.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Valintine. One such figure was John Valintine (c. 1510 – 1589), an English clergyman who served as the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another was Richard Valintine (1679 – 1711), a British architect and sculptor who worked on several notable buildings in London, including St. Paul's Cathedral.

In the 17th century, the Valintine surname can be found in the records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, suggesting that some individuals with this name were among the early settlers of New England. One notable example is Samuel Valintine (1628 – 1689), a Puritan minister who served as the pastor of the First Church of Boston from 1667 until his death.

Another influential figure bearing the Valintine surname was William Valintine (1805 – 1892), an American educator and author who founded the Valintine Manual Labor Seminary in New York. This institution, later known as the Valintine Farm School, aimed to provide practical education and vocational training to students.

While the Valintine surname is not as common as some other surnames, it has a rich history that spans centuries and can be traced back to its English origins. The variations in spelling and the presence of the name in historical records across different regions demonstrate its enduring legacy as a distinctive surname with deep roots in the English language and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Valentine

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

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

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

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