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

Chitwood, 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 Chitwood surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chitwood in America

Chitwood is the 5386th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chitwood surname appeared 6,461 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Chitwood.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chitwood 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 Chitwood

The surname Chitwood has its roots in the English counties of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "cyte" meaning a small cottage or hut, and "wudu" meaning a wood or forest. This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived in a small dwelling located in a wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where it is listed as "Richard de Chytewode". This spelling variation highlights how surnames evolved over time, often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of those recording the names.

In the late 14th century, the name can be found in the Court Rolls of Gloucestershire, where a certain "John Chytewode" is mentioned as a landowner in the village of Naunton. This provides evidence of the name's association with the local gentry and landholding class during that period.

During the 16th century, the name appears to have spread to other parts of England. In 1567, a record from the Parish Registers of Northamptonshire mentions the marriage of "Thomas Chitwood" and "Agnes Butler". This suggests that the spelling had evolved closer to its modern form by that time.

One notable figure bearing the name was William Chitwood (1592-1668), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Archdeacon of Middlesex in the Church of England. He was known for his contributions to theological writings and his involvement in the religious debates of the time.

Another individual of note was John Chitwood (1701-1776), a British naval officer who served during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. He achieved the rank of Rear Admiral and was commended for his bravery and leadership in several major naval engagements.

In the 19th century, the name gained prominence in the United States, where it was carried by several prominent figures. One such individual was Samuel Chitwood (1837-1915), a Union Army officer during the American Civil War who received the Medal of Honor for his gallantry in the Battle of Fredericksburg.

Robert Chitwood (1859-1934) was an American businessman and entrepreneur who established one of the first successful automobile manufacturing companies in the early 20th century. His company, the Chitwood Motor Car Company, produced high-quality vehicles that were popular among the wealthy and influential of the time.

It is worth noting that while the surname Chitwood has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and other English-speaking regions, thanks to migration and the dispersal of families over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chitwood

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

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

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

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