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

FitzThum, 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 FitzThum surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of FitzThum in America

FitzThum is the 148244th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The FitzThum surname appeared 102 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname FitzThum.

The history of the last name FitzThum

The surname Fitzthum has its roots in medieval Europe, specifically originating from England around the 12th century. The name falls into the category of patronymic surnames, which means it is derived from the name of a notable ancestor. The prefix "Fitz" is of Norman origin and denotes "son of," much like the Gaelic "Mac" or the Welsh "ap." The second half of the name, "Thum," could be a derivative or variation of a specific personal name or could reference a particular geographic or topographical feature, although its exact origin is less clear.

The use of "Fitz" became popular after the Norman Conquest of 1066, where it was used to indicate lineage, often linked to nobility or an important patriarch. Historical records from the medieval period show various transformations of surnames using "Fitz," coupled with the name of the father or a notable figure. The particular combination of Fitz and Thum suggests either a less commonly used personal name or perhaps an archaic term that has fallen out of use.

No conclusive records list Fitzthum in the Domesday Book, but later tax records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of the 14th century, have instances of similar-sounding names, hinting at its usage in Middle English periods. The earliest documented record bearing the surname Fitzthum appears in the late 13th century, with a Humphrey Fitzthum recorded in a manorial document from 1294 in Kent.

Fitzthum did not become widely proliferated. However, a few notable individuals bearing the name emerge in history, mainly in documents of landholdings and local governance. Richard Fitzthum, born in 1320, is cited in property charters involving the lands of Sussex, active until his death in 1371. Another figure, Alice Fitzthum, who lived during the latter half of the 15th century, appears in the parish registers of East Anglia, noted for her charitable contributions.

Moving forward into the 17th century, the name appears in legal documents with a mention of a John Fitzthum, born in 1602, a minor noble implicated in a boundary dispute in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Also worth noting is Eleanor Fitzthum, an 18th-century figure born in 1698, recognized in historical records for establishing one of the early chapels in Lincolnshire.

Edward Fitzthum, born in 1754, was a merchant detailed in shipping logs trading between England and the American colonies pre-Revolutionary War, whose career is chronicled until his death in 1811. This adds to the collective historical footprint left behind by those bearing the surname, contributing to the multifaceted mosaic of European lineage and identity.

These individuals with the surname Fitzthum provide a glimpse into the socio-economic and cultural contexts of their times, each having played a part in the small yet significant chronicles of history. Though not as prevalent today, the name Fitzthum carries with it a rich historical narrative spanning several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name FitzThum

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for FitzThum 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!