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

Prewitt, 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 Prewitt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Prewitt in America

Prewitt is the 4234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Prewitt surname appeared 8,371 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Prewitt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Prewitt 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 Prewitt

The surname Prewitt is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "preost" meaning "priest" and "wic" meaning "dwelling" or "village." It suggests that the name was originally used to identify someone who lived near a priest's residence or in a village with a church.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Prewitt dates back to the 13th century in the county of Wiltshire, England, where it appeared in the form "Preostwic." This spelling variation reflects the linguistic evolution of the name over time.

In the renowned Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, there are references to several places with names that may have contributed to the formation of the surname Prewitt, such as "Prestewicha" in Gloucestershire and "Prestewald" in Essex.

One notable individual bearing the name Prewitt was Sir John Prewitt, a prominent English landowner who lived in the 14th century. He was granted various estates and properties by King Edward III in recognition of his loyal service during the Hundred Years' War.

Another historical figure associated with the surname Prewitt was Thomas Prewitt, a wealthy merchant from Bristol, England, who lived in the late 16th century. He made significant contributions to the city's economy and was involved in international trade ventures.

In the 17th century, the Prewitt family established themselves in the colonies of Virginia and Maryland, where they were among the early settlers. One member of this family, William Prewitt (1635-1701), was a prominent landowner and farmer in Stafford County, Virginia.

During the American Revolutionary War, Captain John Prewitt (1740-1821) served in the Continental Army and participated in several key battles, including the Battle of Monmouth and the Battle of Yorktown.

Another notable Prewitt was Mary Prewitt (1810-1888), a pioneer and early settler in Oregon. She and her husband were among the first families to travel the Oregon Trail, and they played a significant role in the development of the Pacific Northwest region.

Throughout history, the surname Prewitt has been associated with various professions, including clergy, landowners, merchants, soldiers, and pioneers, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Prewitt

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

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

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

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