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

Fife, 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 Fife surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fife in America

Fife is the 5202nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fife surname appeared 6,719 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 Fife.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fife 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 Fife

The surname Fife originated in Scotland, deriving from the medieval county of the same name located on the east coast of the country. The name is believed to have stemmed from the Gaelic term "fib," meaning "a small portion of land" or "a place apart."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Fife date back to the 12th century, with mentions found in various charters and rolls from that era. One notable reference is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded those who swore fealty to King Edward I of England, including individuals with the surname Fife.

In the 13th century, a prominent Scottish family bearing the name Fife held lands in the county of the same name. Sir Duncan de Fife, born around 1230, was a notable figure from this lineage and served as a trusted advisor to King Alexander III of Scotland.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Fife. However, it does mention the county of Fife, which was then known as "Fib" or "Fiffe," further reinforcing the connection between the surname and the region.

During the Middle Ages, the name Fife also appeared in various forms, such as "Fyfe," "Fiff," and "Fyfie," reflecting the historical variations in spelling and pronunciation.

Notable individuals with the surname Fife throughout history include:

1. Robert Fife (c. 1310 - c. 1370), a Scottish nobleman and military leader who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence under King Robert the Bruce.

2. William Fife (1857 - 1944), a renowned Scottish yacht designer and builder whose creations were highly sought after in the early 20th century.

3. James Fife, Jr. (1776 - 1848), an American politician and lawyer who served as a United States Senator from Vermont from 1835 to 1841.

4. Margaret Fife (c. 1530 - c. 1590), a Scottish noblewoman and philanthropist who founded several hospitals and schools in the county of Fife.

5. John Fife (1795 - 1857), a Scottish-born surveyor and explorer who played a significant role in mapping and settling parts of Australia in the early 19th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fife

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

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

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

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