Explore the Family Name Avon
The meaning of Avon
1. English: habitational name from Avon (Wiltshire) or Little or Middle Avon (Gloucestershire), both named from the river on which they stand, or possibly a habitational name from a settlement on one of the rivers or small streams called Avon or Aven. These river names derive from the Celtic word for ‘river’, as reflected in Welsh afon and Gaelic abhainn. The modern surname is concentrated in Somerset and Wiltshire, England, suggesting it is associated chiefly with the Avon river that rises on the Gloucester-Wiltshire border and flows through Wiltshire and Somerset into the Severn. 2. English: from the Middle English female personal name Avine, which is probably a pet form of Avis. 3. French: habitational name from Avon, the name of two places in Aube and Seine-et-Marne. 4. French: from the Latin personal name Abundus, from the adjective abundus ‘abundant’, favored by early Christians because it was expressing a desire to excel in the love of God. History: Jean Avon dit Blondin from Coucouron in Ardèche, France, married Marie-Françoise Larivière in Sain-te-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, in 1759. His descendants also bear the former secondary surname or dit (‘also called’) name Blondin.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Avon in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Avon" saw a minor decrease between 2000 and 2010. Ranked at 46,426 in 2000, it fell to 48,436 by 2010, representing a change of -4.33%. Despite this drop in rank, the actual count of individuals with the Avon surname slightly increased from 432 to 436, showing a modest growth of 0.93%. The proportion per 100,000 people also decreased slightly, from 0.16 to 0.15.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #46,426 | #48,436 | -4.33% |
| Count | 432 | 436 | 0.93% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.16 | 0.15 | -6.25% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Avon
Regarding ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows interesting changes over the same decade. The proportion of individuals identifying as White with the Avon surname grew from 75% to 85.55%, an increase of 14.07%. The Asian/Pacific Islander group remained fairly constant with a slight decrease from 3.94% to 3.90%. The number of individuals identifying as Black increased by 22.34%, from 3.94% to 4.82%. However, the representation of Hispanic individuals dropped dramatically from 15.74% to 4.59%, a decrease of 70.84%. The percentage of those identifying as two or more races also declined from 1.39% to 1.15%. The American Indian and Alaskan Native category recorded no individuals in both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 75% | 85.55% | 14.07% |
| Black | 3.94% | 4.82% | 22.34% |
| Hispanic | 15.74% | 4.59% | -70.84% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 3.94% | 3.9% | -1.02% |
| Two or More Races | 1.39% | 1.15% | -17.27% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |