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

Fitchett, 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 Fitchett surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fitchett in America

Fitchett is the 16219th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fitchett surname appeared 1,780 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Fitchett.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fitchett 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 Fitchett

The surname Fitchett has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "fichet," meaning a small fur-bearing animal, such as a polecat or weasel. This suggests that the name may have been originally used as a nickname for someone who resembled or worked with these animals.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fitchett can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1170, where a person named William Fichet is mentioned. The surname also appears in various medieval records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a Richard Fichet.

In the 14th century, the name Fitchett began to be associated with certain places, particularly in the counties of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. For instance, there are records of a John de Fychet from Derbyshire in 1327, and a Roger Fychet from Nottinghamshire in 1379.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the spelling of the name evolved further, with variations like Fitchett, Fychett, and Fytchet appearing in various records. One notable individual from this period was Robert Fitchett (c. 1585-1662), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Cheddleton in Staffordshire.

In the 18th century, the name Fitchett continued to be found in various parts of England. For example, there are records of a John Fitchett (1707-1784) who was a landowner and justice of the peace in Derbyshire, and a William Fitchett (1733-1809) who was a prominent industrialist and ironmaster in the West Midlands.

Moving into the 19th century, the Fitchett surname became increasingly associated with the textile industry in Yorkshire and Lancashire. One notable figure from this period was Joseph Fitchett (1827-1912), a successful wool merchant and philanthropist from Bradford, who was instrumental in establishing several educational institutions in the area.

Throughout history, the Fitchett name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, landowners, industrialists, and merchants. While not as widespread as some other English surnames, it has left its mark across various regions of the country, particularly in the northern counties.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fitchett

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

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

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

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