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

Kitts, 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 Kitts surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kitts in America

Kitts is the 6694th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kitts surname appeared 5,045 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 Kitts.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kitts 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 Kitts

The surname "KITTS" is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cyt", meaning a small dwelling or hut. Variations of the spelling include "Kitt", "Kitte", and "Kytt".

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, which mentions a John Kitte. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not contain any instances of the surname, suggesting it emerged later in the Middle Ages.

The name may also be related to the place name "Kittisford", a small village in Somerset, England. This place name is derived from the Old English words "cyte" (hut) and "ford" (a shallow river crossing), indicating that the surname could have originated from individuals who lived near or came from this location.

Notable individuals with the surname "KITTS" throughout history include:

1. Sir John Kitts (c. 1520-1594), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

2. Thomas Kitts (1600-1673), an early settler in the British colony of Virginia and a member of the House of Burgesses.

3. William Kitts (1804-1878), an English architect best known for designing several churches in London and the surrounding areas.

4. Edith Kitts (1856-1932), a British suffragette and campaigner for women's rights in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

5. Arthur Kitts (1891-1964), a Canadian politician who served as a Member of Parliament for over 20 years and held various cabinet positions.

While the surname "KITTS" is not among the most common in English-speaking regions, it has a long and traceable history, with roots dating back to the medieval period and connections to specific locations in England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kitts

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

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

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

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