Find out how popular the last name Abbitt is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Abbitt.

Abbitt, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Abbitt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Abbitt in America

Abbitt is the 35537th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Abbitt surname appeared 633 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Abbitt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Abbitt to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Abbitt

The surname Abbitt is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "abbod," meaning "abbot" or the head of a monastery or abbey. This suggests that the name may have been initially borne by individuals who held such positions within the ecclesiastical hierarchy or were associated with abbeys in some capacity.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the late 13th century, with references found in various legal documents and parish records. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Abbitt, a landowner in the county of Lincolnshire, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of 1275.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, a census-like record of landowners in England. This document includes the entry of a William Abbitt, who held lands in the village of Eltham, Kent.

During the 15th century, the variant spelling "Abbot" became more prevalent, likely due to the influence of Norman scribes who favored the French spelling. However, the original "Abbitt" form persisted in certain regions, particularly in the northern counties of England.

One notable figure bearing the Abbitt surname was Sir Edward Abbitt, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in the late 16th century. He was granted extensive estates in Gloucestershire by Queen Elizabeth I in recognition of his military service.

In the 17th century, the name gained further recognition with the literary works of Robert Abbitt, a renowned poet and playwright who was born in Warwickshire in 1621. His plays and sonnets were widely acclaimed during the Restoration period.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Abbitt, a pioneering educator who established one of the first schools for girls in London in the early 18th century. Her progressive teaching methods and emphasis on providing equal educational opportunities for females were considered revolutionary at the time.

As the centuries progressed, the Abbitt surname spread across various regions of England, with pockets of concentration in counties such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Gloucestershire. While the name has remained relatively uncommon compared to other English surnames, it has maintained a strong presence throughout its long and storied history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Abbitt

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Abbitt.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Abbitt was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Abbitt has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Abbitt was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Abbitt, please contact us.

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