Explore the Family Name Rivard
The meaning of Rivard
French: 1. topographic name for someone who lived on a river bank, from a derivative of rive ‘(river) bank’. 2. derivative of Old French river ‘to prowl, indulge in debauchery’, used as a nickname for a womanizer. Compare Revard, Revoir, and Revord. History: Nicolas Rivard dit Lavigne from Tourouvre in Orne, France, married Catherine Saint-Père in QC c.1653. His descendants also bear altered forms of the surname, such as Revard, Revoir, and Revord, and also the surnames Lavigne and Lanouette. Some characteristic forenames: French Armand, Normand, Andre, Marcel, Gilles, Fernand, Herve, Jacques, Adelard, Adrien, Alain, Alphee.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Rivard in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Rivard saw a slight decrease in rank from 5852 in 2000 to 6186 in 2010, marking a change of -5.71. The count of individuals with this surname, however, experienced a small increase over the same period, growing by 2.07 percent from 5418 to 5530. The proportion of people with the Rivard surname per 100,000 also decreased by -6.97.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,852 | #6,186 | -5.71% |
| Count | 5,418 | 5,530 | 2.07% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.01 | 1.87 | -6.97% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Rivard
In terms of ethnic identity, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the majority of individuals with the Rivard surname identified as white, with a slight decrease from 96.11 percent in 2000 to 95.30 percent in 2010. The Hispanic representation within the Rivard surname increased by 45.24 percent, while the Black population saw an increase of 60 percent, albeit from a much smaller base. The proportion of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native also saw growths of 11.36 percent and 7.14 percent respectively. Those identifying with two or more races experienced a decrease by -10.00 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.11% | 95.3% | -0.84% |
| Hispanic | 1.68% | 2.44% | 45.24% |
| Two or More Races | 1.2% | 1.08% | -10% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.44% | 0.49% | 11.36% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.42% | 0.45% | 7.14% |
| Black | 0.15% | 0.24% | 60% |
Rivard ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Rivard is British & Irish, which comprises 41.4% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (34.9%) and Italian (4.7%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Spanish & Portuguese, Scandinavian, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Greek & Balkan.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 41.4% |
| French & German | 34.9% |
| Italian | 4.7% |
| Other | 19.0% |
Possible origins of the surname Rivard
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Rivard have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 76.50% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 76.50% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 76.50% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 76.50% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 76.50% |
What Rivard haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Rivard is R-L2, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-L2 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-U152 and IJ-M429, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Maggard, Wampler, Pelton, Cyr, Whetstone, Stovall, Farnsworth, Casteel, Leeper, Fortier.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Rivard surname are: H1, N, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Rivard have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Rivard" Surname 56.8%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Rivard" Surname 36.8%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Rivard" Surname 14.1%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Rivard" Surname 14.8%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Rivard?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Rivard are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition