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

Chit, 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 Chit surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chit in America

Chit is the 98982nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chit surname appeared 183 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 Chit.

The history of the last name Chit

The surname CHIT has its origins in England, and records indicate it first appeared in the late 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cyte," which was a term used to describe a small cottage or hut. This suggests the name may have been an occupational surname for someone who lived in a humble dwelling or perhaps a maker of small huts.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Essex Feet of Fines for 1398, which mentions a John Chit. The Feet of Fines were a legal record of land transfers, indicating the name was present in that region during the Late Middle Ages. In 1412, another record from Yorkshire mentions a Thomas Chit, suggesting the name had spread across different parts of England by that time.

In the 16th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Chitt, Chytt, and Chyte, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common in that era. One notable individual from this period was William Chyt, a merchant from Bristol who was recorded in the city's archives in 1543.

The 17th century saw the name CHIT appear in several parish records and historical documents. In 1623, a John Chit was mentioned in the manorial records of Walsingham, Norfolk. Around the same time, a Richard Chit was recorded in the parish registers of Holmesfield, Derbyshire, in 1627.

During the 18th century, the surname CHIT continued to be present in various parts of England. One notable figure was James Chit (1723-1789), a prominent landowner and magistrate in the county of Kent. Another individual of note was Mary Chit (1765-1840), a philanthropist and benefactor from Gloucestershire, who donated funds to establish a school for underprivileged children in her hometown.

In the 19th century, the CHIT surname gained further prominence with individuals like Sir Henry Chit (1812-1872), a British diplomat who served as ambassador to several European countries. Additionally, John Chit (1842-1918) was a respected scholar and author who published works on English literature and history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chit

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

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 Chit 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.

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 Chit was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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