Vern last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Vern

A surname denoting someone from a place with alder trees or a settlement with greenery.

Vern, 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 Vern surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Vern in America

Vern is the 147095th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vern surname appeared 103 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Vern.

The history of the last name Vern

The surname Vern has its origins in France, with its roots tracing back to medieval times. It is derived from the Old French word "verne," which means "alder tree." The region most associated with the surname Vern is Normandy, a historical and cultural region in the northern part of France. The name was often used to indicate someone who lived near or among alder trees.

Historical references to the surname Vern can be found in various medieval documents. Some of the earliest records include mentions in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of England completed by order of William the Conqueror. Although the name appears more common in French records, its presence in Norman England suggests movement and settlement of Normans post-Conquest.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Vern appears in the historical records of Normandy in the 12th century. A notable bearer is Geoffroi de Vern, who appeared in documents around 1150. His involvement in local governance and land transactions is well documented, marking the name’s prominence in the region.

Vern also appears in place names, specifically in the commune of Vern-sur-Seiche in Brittany, France. This commune, which interestingly carries the same name, has records dating back several centuries, reaffirming the relationship between the place and the surname.

Several notable individuals in history bear the surname Vern. Bernard de Vern, born in 1275, was known for his role in the local administration of Normandy. Jean Vern, a 15th-century French knight, who was recorded in military service. In the arts, Antoine Vern, born in 1760, was a recognized painter during his time.

Another historical figure is Philippe Vern, who lived during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was a renowned scholar and contributed significantly to the educational reforms in Paris. Lastly, in the field of science, Pierre Vern, an 18th-century French botanist, made several important discoveries about the flora of Northern France.

These historical references highlight the longstanding presence and significance of the surname Vern in French history. It demonstrates the varied contributions of individuals with this surname across different fields and regions over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vern

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Vern was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 75.73% 78
Non-Hispanic Black Only 9.71% 10
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 6.80% 7
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 6.80% 7

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.

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

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

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"Vern last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 16, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/vern-surname-popularity/.

"Vern last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/vern-surname-popularity/. Accessed 16 October, 2025

Vern last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/vern-surname-popularity/.

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