Midkiff
An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "mid cliff" or "the middle of a steep slope."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,244 Americans carry the last name Midkiff. That puts it at #7,366 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.53 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 65,361 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Midkiff surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
5.2K
1 in 65,361
Census rank
#7,366
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,523 bearers of the surname Midkiff in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.53 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 7366th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Midkiff, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.5%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Midkiff
The surname Midkiff is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "midd" meaning "middle" and "cyff" meaning "ridge" or "hill." It is believed to have originated in the medieval period as a descriptive surname, referring to someone who lived on or near a middle ridge or hill.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Midkiff can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of England, including Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Midkiff, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire in 1327.
In the 14th century, variations of the name appeared in historical records, such as Middekeff and Midkyff, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common during that time period. The Midkiff surname was also associated with several place names, such as Midkiff Grange in Derbyshire, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086.
Notable individuals throughout history who bore the Midkiff surname include William Midkiff (1570-1635), a prominent landowner and merchant in Staffordshire, and Elizabeth Midkiff (1625-1682), a Puritan writer and poet from Warwickshire. In the 18th century, John Midkiff (1712-1781) was a respected farmer and community leader in Derbyshire, while his son, Thomas Midkiff (1745-1823), served as a captain in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Another notable figure was Sir Robert Midkiff (1825-1901), a British politician and businessman who served as a Member of Parliament for Warwickshire and played a significant role in the industrial development of the region. In more recent times, William Midkiff (1915-2002) was a renowned historian and author who published several books on the history and genealogy of the Midkiff family.
While the Midkiff surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration to North America and other English-speaking countries. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it emerged as a descriptive surname denoting an individual's geographic location or proximity to a middle ridge or hill.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Midkiff
Among Census respondents with the surname Midkiff, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.5%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Midkiff bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Midkiff surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.2%
- Hispanic or Latino1.5%
- Two or more races1.4%
- Black or African American1.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Midkiff surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,366 | #7,366 | 0.0% |
| Count | 4,523 | 4,523 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.53 | 1.53 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Midkiff bearers went from 4,523 to 4,523 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #7,366 to #7,366.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Midkiff
FAQ
Midkiff surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Midkiff?
The surname Midkiff holds position #7,366 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 5,244 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.53 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Midkiff surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Midkiff, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.5%) and Two or More Races (1.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.