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

Hitch, 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 Hitch surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hitch in America

Hitch is the 13477th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hitch surname appeared 2,256 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 Hitch.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hitch 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 Hitch

The surname Hitch originated in England sometime during the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hicce," which referred to a hitch or a catch used for securing objects. This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname for someone who made or worked with hitches or latches.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Hitch can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Hicche." This document was a census conducted in England during the reign of King Edward I, and it provides a valuable record of surnames in use at that time.

In the 14th century, the surname Hitch appeared in various records from the county of Hertfordshire, particularly in the areas around the towns of St. Albans and Watford. This suggests that the name may have originated or been concentrated in this region.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Hitch. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the development of this surname, such as Hitchin in Hertfordshire and Hitcham in Suffolk.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Hitch was William Hitch, who was born around 1490 in Hertfordshire. He was a landowner and farmer, and his family is believed to have been prominent in the local community.

Another notable figure with the surname Hitch was Sir Ralph Hitch (c. 1520-1588), a wealthy merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1568. He was instrumental in establishing trade relations between England and the Netherlands during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the surname Hitch appeared in the records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, indicating that some individuals with this name had emigrated to the American colonies from England. One such individual was Robert Hitch (1633-1692), who settled in Boston and became a successful merchant and landowner.

During the 18th century, the surname Hitch became associated with the village of Hitchin, which had developed into a center for brewing and malting. Several prominent families with the surname Hitch were involved in this industry, including the Hitch family of Brewers Hill in Hitchin.

Another notable figure with the surname Hitch was Sir Benjamin Hitch (1744-1821), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He rose to the rank of Admiral and was knighted for his distinguished service.

Overall, the surname Hitch has a long and varied history, with roots stretching back to medieval England. While it may have originated as an occupational surname, it has since been associated with various regions, industries, and notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hitch

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

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

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

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