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

Vivians, 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 Vivians surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vivians in America

Vivians is the 104156th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vivians surname appeared 172 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 Vivians.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vivians 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 Vivians

The surname Vivians has its roots in the Middle Ages, originating in the northern regions of France during the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French personal name "Vivien," which itself evolved from the Latin name "Vivianus." This Latin name was formed by combining the root word "vivus," meaning "alive" or "lively," with the suffix "-anus," indicating possession or association.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Vivians surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, compiled by order of William the Conqueror. This significant historical document mentions a landowner named Radulfus Vivianus, who held estates in Huntingdonshire, England. This suggests that the name had already spread beyond its French origins by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Vivians name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Normandy and Brittany in northern France. Several notable individuals bore this surname, including Guillaume Vivians, a renowned architect who oversaw the construction of the iconic Chartres Cathedral in the 13th century.

As the surname migrated across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Vivian, Vyvyan, and Vivien. One prominent figure was Sir Ralph Vyvyan, a distinguished English soldier who fought in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 during the Hundred Years' War.

In the 16th century, the Vivians name found its way to the New World, as some members of the family were among the early settlers in colonial America. One such individual was John Vivian, born in 1616, who established himself in Massachusetts and became a prominent figure in the local community.

Another notable bearer of the Vivians surname was Richard Vivian, an 18th-century English industrialist and mining engineer. He played a significant role in the development of the Cornish mining industry and was instrumental in introducing innovative mining techniques.

Moving into the 19th century, the name Vivians gained further prominence with the birth of Roberton Vivian in 1809. He was a British lawyer and politician who served as the Secretary of State for War from 1859 to 1866, during the early years of the Victorian era.

Throughout its long history, the Vivians surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and across various regions. While its exact origins may be shrouded in the mists of time, the name's enduring legacy serves as a testament to the rich tapestry of human heritage and the ever-evolving nature of language and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vivians

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

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

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

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