Explore the Family Name Severn
The meaning of Severn
English (Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire): 1. from an unattested Middle English personal name equivalent to French Séverin (see Severin). 2. topographic name from residence by the River Severn, which flows from Wales through much of western England to the Bristol Channel. The river name is recorded as early as the 2nd century ad in the form Sabrina. This is one of Britain’s most ancient river names; the original meaning is uncertain, but it may have been ‘slow-moving’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Severn in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Severn experienced a slight shift in popularity between 2000 and 2010. The ranking of the name fell by 2.68 percent from 21,776 to 22,359, reflecting a decrease in its relative popularity among all surnames. However, the actual count of individuals with this surname increased by 3.41 percent from 1,114 to 1,152. This indicates that while the surname may have become less common relative to other surnames, the number of people named Severn grew overall. The proportion of the surname per 100,000 people also decreased by 4.88 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #21,776 | #22,359 | -2.68% |
| Count | 1,114 | 1,152 | 3.41% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.41 | 0.39 | -4.88% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Severn
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Severn saw several changes from 2000 to 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. While the majority of individuals identifying as White remained the highest at 92.88 percent, this represented a decrease of 3.75 percent from 2000. The most significant increases were seen in the categories of 'Two or more races', which rose by 146.91 percent, and 'Hispanic', which surged by 126.98 percent. Although the percentages for 'Asian/Pacific Islander', 'Black', and 'American Indian and Alaskan Native' are comparatively smaller, they saw increases of 44.44, 35.56, and 93.33 percent respectively, indicating growing diversity among those bearing the Severn surname. Some data was suppressed for privacy reasons.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.5% | 92.88% | -3.75% |
| Hispanic | 1.26% | 2.86% | 126.98% |
| Two or More Races | 0.81% | 2% | 146.91% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.45% | 0.87% | 93.33% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.54% | 0.78% | 44.44% |
| Black | 0.45% | 0.61% | 35.56% |