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

Kite, 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 Kite surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kite in America

Kite is the 6258th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kite surname appeared 5,457 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 Kite.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kite 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 Kite

The surname KITE has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "cyta", which means a small house or cottage, suggesting that the name may have been descriptive of someone who lived in a humble dwelling.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname KITE can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex, dated 1194, where a certain William Kite is mentioned. This historical record provides valuable insight into the early use and spelling variations of the surname.

In the 13th century, the KITE surname appeared in various other records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a Robert Kyte. This document highlights the alternative spelling "Kyte", which was likely influenced by regional dialects and scribal variations.

During the 14th century, the KITE surname gained prominence, with notable individuals like John Kyte, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1336. This record provides evidence of the surname's presence in different parts of England at that time.

The KITE surname has also been associated with place names, such as Kyte in Worcestershire, which may have contributed to the name's early development and distribution. Additionally, the surname may have derived from the Old English word "cyte", meaning a kite bird, potentially referring to a person with a keen eye or someone involved in falconry.

Throughout history, several individuals with the KITE surname have achieved recognition in various fields. One notable figure was Thomas Kite (1580-1635), an English clergyman and writer who served as the rector of Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk. Another prominent figure was John Kite (1590-1662), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, Benjamin Kite (1711-1787) made significant contributions as an English Quaker minister and writer, publishing several religious works. Later, in the 19th century, Edmund Kite (1808-1892) gained recognition as an English architect and surveyor, responsible for designing several notable buildings in London.

Moving into the 20th century, Charles Kite (1907-1994) was a British actor and writer, best known for his roles on stage and in films. His contemporaries included the American novelist and playwright Woodhouse Kite (1921-2012), whose works explored themes of family, identity, and social issues.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kite

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

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

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

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