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

Fitts, 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 Fitts surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fitts in America

Fitts is the 5762nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fitts surname appeared 6,014 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 Fitts.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fitts 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 Fitts

The surname Fitts has its origins in England, tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "fitt," which referred to a small field or meadow. This suggests that the name initially identified someone who lived near or worked on a small parcel of land.

The earliest known record of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1195, where it is listed as "Fittus." This ancient spelling variation underscores the name's long-standing presence in the English countryside.

During the 13th century, the name Fitts began appearing in various manuscripts and records across different regions of England. One notable example is found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is recorded as "Fitz."

In the 14th century, the name Fitts was associated with several place names, such as Fittleton in Wiltshire and Fitton in Cheshire. These place names likely originated from the surname itself, reflecting the connections between family names and geographic locations.

One of the earliest documented individuals bearing the name Fitts was Sir Edward Fitts, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in the late 13th century. His descendants continued to hold significant roles in English society over the following centuries.

Another notable figure was Thomas Fitts, born in 1592 in Gloucestershire. He was a respected scholar and theologian who served as the President of Trinity College, Oxford, from 1624 until his death in 1639.

In the 17th century, the name Fitts gained further recognition with the birth of Thomas Fitts the Younger (1615-1683), a renowned English translator and writer. His translation of Virgil's "Aeneid" into English verse was highly acclaimed during his lifetime.

Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fitts in the American colonies was that of Jonathan Fitts, who arrived in Massachusetts from England in 1635. He went on to establish a prominent family line in New England.

In the realm of literature, the 19th century saw the rise of Mary Fitts (1844-1914), a celebrated English novelist and poet. Her works, particularly her poetic depictions of rural life, earned her widespread critical acclaim.

Throughout its long history, the surname Fitts has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, from landowners and scholars to writers and settlers, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural tapestry of England and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fitts

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

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

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

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