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

Midget, 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 Midget surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Midget in America

Midget is the 109258th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Midget surname appeared 162 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Midget.

We can also compare 2010 data for Midget 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 Midget

The surname "Midget" is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "midgett," which referred to a small person or dwarf. The name was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone of short stature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire from 1194, where a "Henricus Midgett" is mentioned. The Pipe Rolls were financial records kept by the English Exchequer during the reign of King Richard I.

In the 13th century, there are references to a "Robert Midget" in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275. The Subsidy Rolls were tax records collected by the English Crown to fund military campaigns.

The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, which mention a "Johannes Midget" living in the village of Chipping Norton. The Hundred Rolls were surveys conducted to determine the extent of the king's holdings and the rights and obligations of his tenants.

During the 14th century, a "William Midget" is recorded in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1327. These were tax records collected to fund military campaigns against the Scottish and French.

In the 15th century, the name is found in the form "Mydgett" in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence between members of the Paston family of Norfolk. A letter from 1472 mentions a "John Mydgett" who was involved in a land dispute.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was Sir Thomas Midget (c. 1480–1546), a courtier and diplomat who served under King Henry VIII. He was involved in negotiations with the Holy Roman Empire and played a role in the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Another notable figure was John Midget (1560–1628), an English philosopher and author who wrote extensively on ethics and natural philosophy. He was a member of the Church of England and served as a rector in Wiltshire.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various spellings, including "Midgett," "Midgit," and "Midget." A "Robert Midgett" is recorded in the parish registers of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, in 1642.

One of the most famous bearers of the surname was Admiral Sir William Midget (1674–1743), a naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the War of the Spanish Succession and the War of the Quadruple Alliance. He was renowned for his leadership and bravery in several decisive naval battles.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Midget

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

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

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

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