Douthitt last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Douthitt

An English habitational surname referring to someone from Douthitt, a place name derived from Old English meaning "valley of the duir (small stream)".

Douthitt, 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 Douthitt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Douthitt in America

Douthitt is the 21204th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Douthitt surname appeared 1,238 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 Douthitt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Douthitt 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 21204 19695 7.38%
Count 1,238 1,266 -2.24%
Proportion per 100k 0.42 0.47 -11.24%

The history of the last name Douthitt

The surname Douthitt has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from Douthwaite, a place name found in various parts of northern England, particularly Yorkshire. The name likely stems from the Old Norse words "dufa" (dove) and "thveit" (meadow or piece of land), suggesting an association with a dove meadow or a place where doves were found in abundance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where it appears as "de Duffythwayt." This spelling variation highlights the influence of regional dialects and the evolution of the name over time. Other early spellings include "Duffythwayte" and "Duffeythwayte," reflecting the diverse ways the name was recorded and pronounced in different areas.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Douthitt name appears in various historical records and documents. For instance, in the Parish Registers of Wath-upon-Dearne, Yorkshire, there is a record of the marriage of John Duffethwaite in 1593. Additionally, the Hearth Tax Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 17th century list several individuals with the surname Duffithwaite or Duffithwait, further reinforcing the connection to the region.

Notably, the Douthitt name is associated with several notable figures throughout history. One such individual is John Douthwaite (1764-1837), a renowned English landscape painter known for his romantic depictions of English countryside scenes. Another notable bearer of the name is William Douthwaite (1854-1924), a prominent English industrialist and co-founder of the engineering firm Douthwaite & Partners.

In the United States, the name Douthitt can be traced back to the late 18th century, likely brought by English immigrants. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Joseph Douthitt (1745-1813), a Virginia planter and Revolutionary War veteran. Another notable American with this surname is William H. Douthitt (1803-1887), a lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives.

The Douthitt name has also been associated with various place names and locations over the centuries. For example, Douthwaite Dale in North Yorkshire is a picturesque valley that likely derived its name from the same Old Norse roots as the surname. Additionally, the village of Douthwaite in the historic county of Cumberland (now part of Cumbria) further reflects the geographical ties of the name.

While the Douthitt surname may have evolved and diversified over the centuries, its origins remain firmly rooted in the northern regions of England, particularly Yorkshire. The name's connection to the Old Norse words for "dove" and "meadow" adds a touch of poetic imagery to its history, reminding us of the rich tapestry of cultural influences that have shaped our surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Douthitt

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

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 Douthitt was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 90.47% 1,120
Non-Hispanic Black Only 5.41% 67
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 2.34% 29
Hispanic Origin 1.05% 13

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 90.47% 91.15% -0.75%
Black 5.41% 6.24% -14.25%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 2.34% 0.87% 91.59%
Hispanic 1.05% 0.95% 10.00%

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

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

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

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

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

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