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

Fithian, 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 Fithian surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fithian in America

Fithian is the 24802nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fithian surname appeared 1,004 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 Fithian.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fithian 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 Fithian

The surname Fithian has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "fithele," which means "fiddle" or "small violin." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who played the fiddle or was a musician.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1190, where a person named Robert le Fytheler is mentioned. The "le" prefix in the name suggests that it may have initially been an occupational surname, referring to someone who played the fiddle or violin.

The Fithian surname is also closely linked to the village of Fithian, located in Northamptonshire, England. It is possible that the name originated from this place, and people who lived in or came from this village were known as Fithians.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as Fytheler, Fitheler, and Fythian, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during that period.

Notable individuals with the surname Fithian include:

1. Philip Vickers Fithian (1747-1776), an American diarist and Presbyterian minister known for his journals that provide insights into colonial life in Virginia.

2. John Fithian (1776-1856), an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

3. Edward Fithian (1892-1956), an American actor who appeared in several films and television shows during the 1940s and 1950s.

4. William Fithian (1763-1847), an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly and as a judge in Cumberland County, New Jersey.

5. John Fithian (born 1957), an American businessman who serves as the President and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), a trade organization representing the movie theater industry in the United States.

While the Fithian surname is not among the most common surnames today, it has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England, with connections to occupations, places, and notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fithian

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

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

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

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