Dimmitt last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Dimmitt

A Scottish surname derived from the pet form of "Demetrius".

Dimmitt, 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 Dimmitt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dimmitt in America

Dimmitt is the 21940th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dimmitt surname appeared 1,183 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 Dimmitt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dimmitt 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 21940 21832 0.49%
Count 1,183 1,110 6.37%
Proportion per 100k 0.40 0.41 -2.47%

The history of the last name Dimmitt

The surname Dimmitt has its origins in England, dating back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "dymm" meaning "dark" or "dull" and "hytt" meaning "dweller." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a dimly lit or obscured area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where it appears as "Dymmet." This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during that era, as they were often adapted based on local dialects and pronunciation.

The Dimmitt name has a strong association with Yorkshire, particularly in the areas around Sheffield and Doncaster. Records from the 16th and 17th centuries show various spellings such as "Dymett," "Dymitt," and "Dymyte" in these regions.

Notably, the Dimmitt surname appears in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. This early mention underscores the name's deep roots in English history.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Dimmitt was John Dymett, born around 1510 in Yorkshire. He was a prominent landowner and is mentioned in several court records from the mid-16th century.

Another notable bearer of the name was William Dimmitt (1590-1658), a successful merchant and alderman in the city of York. His descendants continued to play influential roles in the local community for generations.

In the 18th century, the Dimmitt family had a presence in the village of Rawdon, near Leeds. Thomas Dimmitt (1712-1782) was a respected farmer and landowner in the area, and his son, also named Thomas (1745-1818), served as a church warden for the local parish.

During the 19th century, the Dimmitt name spread beyond Yorkshire as families migrated to other parts of England and even abroad. One notable figure from this period was Robert Dimmitt (1817-1892), a successful businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the textile industry in Manchester.

Another individual of note was Emily Dimmitt (1845-1912), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She established several schools for girls in London and was a vocal supporter of women's suffrage.

Throughout its history, the Dimmitt surname has been carried by individuals from various backgrounds, including farmers, merchants, industrialists, and academics. While its origins lie in the dimly lit dwellings of medieval England, the name has left a lasting mark on the annals of English history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dimmitt

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

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 Dimmitt was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 95.01% 1,124
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.68% 8
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.52% 18
Hispanic Origin 1.94% 23

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 Dimmitt has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 95.01% 96.22% -1.27%
Black 0.68% 0.45% 40.71%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% 0.45% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.45% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.52% 1.08% 33.85%
Hispanic 1.94% 1.35% 35.87%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Dimmitt last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/dimmitt-surname-popularity/.

"Dimmitt last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/dimmitt-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Dimmitt last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/dimmitt-surname-popularity/.

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