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

Mitten, 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 Mitten surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mitten in America

Mitten is the 19911th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mitten surname appeared 1,348 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 Mitten.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mitten 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 Mitten

The surname Mitten is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "myten," which means a type of glove or mitten worn in cold weather. This name likely arose as a descriptive surname or occupational name for someone who made or sold mittens.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Mitten dates back to the late 13th century in Oxfordshire, England. It is believed to have originated in the Midlands region of England, where the occupation of mitten-making was prevalent.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a record of landowners in England, there is a reference to a "John le Mitener" in Oxfordshire. This early spelling variation, "Mitener," further supports the connection to the occupation of mitten-making.

Another early record of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Suffolk in 1327, where a "William Mytyn" is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of the surname over time.

One notable individual with the surname Mitten was Sir Samuel Mitten (1598-1668), an English politician and landowner who served as Lord Mayor of London from 1635 to 1636. He was a prominent figure during the English Civil War and supported the Parliamentarian cause.

In the 17th century, the Mitten family established itself in the county of Cheshire, England. William Mitten (1628-1706), a prominent Cheshire landowner, was born in the village of Mottram St. Andrew and played a significant role in local affairs.

Another notable figure was Thomas Mitten (1786-1849), a British botanist and bryologist who made significant contributions to the study of mosses. He was born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, and his work on mosses is still referenced today.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Mitten was in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century. John Mitten (1632-1677) was an early settler in Salem, Massachusetts, and is listed in the records of the First Church of Salem.

Mary Mitten (1779-1865), born in Pennsylvania, was a prominent Quaker minister and abolitionist. She traveled extensively, preaching against slavery and advocating for women's rights throughout the United States and abroad.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the surname Mitten, which has its roots in the occupation of mitten-making and the Old English word "myten."

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mitten

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

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

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

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