Dewight
From old German meaning "bright champion or fighter".
Name Census estimates that about 450 living Americans carry the first name Dewight. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Dewight today is around 52 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dewight births was 1976 (19 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dewight. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
450
~ 1 in 761,676 Americans
Peak year
1976
19 babies that year
Average age
52
years old
2016 SSA rank
#12,683
Tracked since 1930
Popularity
Dewight: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Dewight from the 1930s through to the 2010s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 120 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dewight by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Dewight during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Dewight
The given name Dewight has its origins in the Old English language, dating back to the 5th century AD. It is derived from the Old English words "deor," meaning "dear" or "beloved," and "wiht," meaning "creature" or "being." This suggests that Dewight was originally a name bestowed upon someone who was deeply cherished or regarded as a precious being.
In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the name Dewight was primarily used by the nobility and upper classes, often given to the sons of prominent families or those with significant social standing. It was considered a strong and noble name, reflecting the high regard and affection held for the child.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dewight can be found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a historical record chronicling the events of England from the late 9th century to the 12th century. In this text, a nobleman named Dewight is mentioned as a trusted advisor to King Aethelred the Unready in the year 1002 AD.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Dewight. One of the most famous was Dewight the Scribe, a renowned calligrapher and illuminator of manuscripts who lived in the 11th century. His exquisite works, including the "Dewight Gospels," are considered masterpieces of medieval art and are preserved in various museums and libraries around the world.
Another prominent figure was Dewight of Warwick, a 12th-century English knight and crusader who participated in the Third Crusade alongside King Richard I. He was renowned for his bravery and skill on the battlefield and is mentioned in several contemporary chronicles and accounts of the Crusades.
In the 16th century, Dewight Raleigh, a distant relative of the famous explorer Sir Walter Raleigh, was a prominent courtier and diplomat during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He played a significant role in negotiations with foreign powers and was highly regarded for his diplomatic skills.
One of the most influential figures bearing the name Dewight was Dewight Cromwell, a 17th-century English military and political leader who served as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1653 until his death in 1658. He was a key figure in the English Civil War and is remembered for his role in the execution of King Charles I and the establishment of the Commonwealth.
Lastly, Dewight Farnsworth, a prominent American inventor and businessman from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, made significant contributions to the development of the electrical industry. He held numerous patents and played a crucial role in the establishment of several major electrical companies, including the Farnsworth Electric Company.
People
Dewight + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dewight as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Dewight: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dewight?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 450 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dewight going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 761,676 US residents.
Is Dewight a common name?
We classify Dewight as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 528 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dewight most popular?
The single biggest year for Dewight was 1976, when 19 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dewight is about 52 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Dewight a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dewight in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.