Surname Driver - Meaning and Origin
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Unravelling the Unique Journey of the Driver Surname: iGENEA DNA Test Experience
Curiosity about my family name 'Driver', led me to take the iGENEA DNA test. The exciting revelation of my English and Germanic origins, the historical role of my ancestors as crucial community connectors, and my unexpected Viking lineage, have not only broadened my understanding of my surname but also strengthened my personal identity.
M. Driver
read moreDriver: What does the surname Driver mean?
The last name Driver is derived from the Old French word "driver," which translates to "someone who drives," or more generally, a leader or guide, perhaps even a herald or messenger. This likely referred to people who were skilled and experienced in driving. In the Middle Ages, people with this occupational title would serve as a guide or driver of caravans of goods, cattle, and people. In some cases, the Driver surname may have originally referred to a military messenger rather than a horse-drawn wagon driver.
In Britain, Driver is a regional name, especially popular in the Midland region, which includes counties such as Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Gloucestershire. The first recorded spelling of the surname Driver was found in 1279 in the county of Oxfordshire.
In the United States, the name is particularly common in Maryland and Texas. It is thought that many Americans with this surname arrived in the United States in the early colonial period. In particular, after the American Revolution, some Loyalists with this name migrated from Britain to Canada and then to the United States. The Driver surname today has spread across the world, and many bearers of the name are found in Australia, the United Kingdom, and all of the countries of the British Commonwealth.
Order DNA origin analysisDriver: Where does the name Driver come from?
The last name Driver is most common today in the United States, particularly in the South. Driver is the most common surname in Arkansas and is particularly prevalent in its bordering states of Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.
As of the most recent US Census, approximately 22,500 people bear the Driver surname. During the 19th century, there was a large influx of immigrants from Staffordshire, England which brought many Driver families to America. This could be the main cause for the proliferation of the name in the South, as Staffordshire is located in close proximity to the US border.
There were also many indigenous tribes in the south, with many of them being among the first people to adopt the last name Driver during the 1700s and 1800s. Today, Driver is prominently found throughout the many counties and cities in the South of the United States, with numerous individuals that share a direct common ancestry having lived in this same region for centuries.
Variations of the surname Driver
The surname Driver has several variants; some of the most common are Drive, Driever, Driever, Drievert, Drifer, Drivet, and Drivoot.
It is common for families to change their spelling of the surname over generations, so there are a variety of spellings that descend from the Driver family name. For instance, some families spell the name Drivoot, and others may have adopted the spelling Drive instead. The spelling Drier is also popular, which refers to the practice of drying fruits or vegetables.
The surname Driver is also found in various forms in some parts of Europe, such as Deriver in Germany, Draper in parts of France, Druive in the Netherlands, and Druivaa in Finland.
In the United States, there are some families who have adopted the Dutch name Druivaa, so they spell their surname exactly as it is spelled in the Netherlands. Some American families have also dropped the first two letters of the name and instead just spell their name Riva.
No matter how the surname Driver is spelled, all of these spellings are derived from the same origin. Ultimately, the origin of this surname is from the Old English word Druidh, literally meaning “devotee of the god Woden” – a god from the pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon pantheon. Woden was also known as Odin, and was considered the god of wind and storms, so the suffix “-er” in various spellings of the name Driver actually implies someone who was devoted to the Old English god of wind and storms.
Famous people with the name Driver
- Ryan Driver: Canadian actor and singer best known for his roles in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Inside Llewyn Davis and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.
- Iris Driver: American professional tennis player who competed in Australia’s National Women’s Singles Championship.
- Maisie Driver: British actress and Businesswoman who won in the leading actress category at the International Emmy Awards for her role in Mrs. Wilson.
- Aunjanue Ellis: American actress who has appeared in The Help, If Beale Street Could Talk, Ray and Driver X.
- Gary Driver: British Olympic runner who competed at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City.
- Martin Driver: British photographer and film producer who worked for major recording artists.
- Adam Driver: American actor known for his roles in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Girls and Paterson.
- Jerome Driver: American football running back who played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions.
- Diane Driver: American basketball player who played for UCLA.
- Jade Driver: American Pop singer and songwriter.