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

Profitt, 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 Profitt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Profitt in America

Profitt is the 14564th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Profitt surname appeared 2,046 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Profitt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Profitt 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 Profitt

The surname Profitt is of English origin and traces its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from an occupational name referring to someone who profited or made a living through trade or business dealings. The earliest recorded spelling of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1195, where it appears as Richard le Profyt.

The Profitt name is thought to have originated in the counties of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire in the southern part of England. It is likely that the name was initially used as a descriptive term for someone who was successful in their profession or trade, possibly a merchant or trader who made a significant profit from their endeavors.

In the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, dated 1273, there is a record of a Roger Profyt, indicating the presence of the name in that county during the 13th century. The name also appears in various tax and legal records throughout the following centuries, such as the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379, which mentions a Johannes Profite.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Profitt surname was Sir William Profitt, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in the late 14th century. He is recorded as having owned estates in Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, further cementing the name's connection to those regions.

Another notable figure with the Profitt surname was John Profitt, born in 1582 in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. He was a contemporary of William Shakespeare and is mentioned in several records from the town during that period.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various parish records across England, with variations in spelling such as Proffitt, Profett, and Proffett. One such record is the baptism of Thomas Profitt in 1623 in the parish of St. Mary's, Lambeth, London.

During the English Civil War (1642-1651), a Captain Edward Profitt is recorded as having fought for the Parliamentarian forces, further demonstrating the presence of the name in significant historical events.

Over the centuries, the Profitt surname has been associated with various place names and locations across England, including Profitt's Hill in Gloucestershire and Profitt's Lane in Oxfordshire, both of which likely derived their names from early bearers of the surname in those areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Profitt

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

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

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

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