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

Reffitt, 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 Reffitt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Reffitt in America

Reffitt is the 24982nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Reffitt surname appeared 995 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 Reffitt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Reffitt 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 Reffitt

The surname REFFITT is of English origin, emerging in the late medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from a place name that has since become obsolete or altered beyond recognition. Some historians suggest it may be associated with the Old English word "hryffe," meaning a small hillock or mound, possibly indicating that the original bearers of the name resided near such a geographical feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname REFFITT can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, dated 1327, where a Thomas Reffyt is listed. This document provides evidence of the name's presence in the English Midlands during the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various parish records across Worcestershire and neighboring counties. Notably, a John Reffitt was born in Leigh, Worcestershire, in 1545, and his descendants can be traced through subsequent generations in the area.

The REFFITT surname also has a presence in historical records from other parts of England. In the 17th century, a William Reffitt was documented in the Hearth Tax returns for Northamptonshire in 1674, suggesting the name had spread to the East Midlands region.

One notable bearer of the REFFITT surname was Richard Reffitt, a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of York during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Records indicate that he was born in 1662 and died in 1732, leaving behind a substantial estate.

Another individual of note was Samuel Reffitt, a Church of England clergyman who served as the Vicar of Huddersfield in West Yorkshire from 1781 until his death in 1806. He was instrumental in the expansion and renovation of the parish church during his tenure.

In the 19th century, the REFFITT name can be found across various parts of England, including in the counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Lancashire. One notable figure from this era was William Reffitt, a respected architect born in Nottingham in 1815, who designed several notable buildings in the East Midlands region.

Despite its relatively low frequency, the surname REFFITT has persisted through the centuries, maintaining a presence in various regions of England, particularly in the Midlands and the North. While not a widespread name, it has left its mark on the historical records of the country, reflecting the diverse origins and migrations of English families over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Reffitt

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!