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

Ditch, 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 Ditch surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ditch in America

Ditch is the 22346th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ditch surname appeared 1,153 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 Ditch.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ditch 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 Ditch

The surname Ditch has its origins in England, dating back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "dic," meaning a ditch or a trench. This name likely referred to someone who lived near a ditch or worked as a ditch digger.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ditch can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings, such as "Diche" and "atte Diche," indicating its locational origins.

During the 13th century, the name Ditch was particularly prevalent in the counties of Essex and Suffolk. William Ditch, born around 1230 in Colchester, Essex, was a notable figure who served as a bailiff and held land in the area. His descendants continued to use the surname, and it became well-established in the region.

In the 14th century, the surname Ditch was also found in other parts of England, such as Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. John Ditch, born in 1315 in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, was a prominent landowner and served as a tax collector for the Crown.

The 16th century saw the emergence of several notable individuals bearing the Ditch surname. Sir Thomas Ditch, born in 1520 in Yorkshire, was a respected lawyer and judge who served as a Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another significant figure was Sir Robert Ditch, born in 1565 in Essex, who was a successful merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Drapers in London. He played a crucial role in the development of trade with the Netherlands and was knighted for his contributions.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the Ditch surname continued to be found across various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk. Prominent individuals during this period included Reverend John Ditch, born in 1642 in Suffolk, who was a respected clergyman and author of several religious texts.

While the surname Ditch has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and exploration. However, its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "dic," reflecting the historical significance of ditches and trenches in agricultural and defensive practices.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ditch

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

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

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

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