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

Rhett, 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 Rhett surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rhett in America

Rhett is the 26422nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rhett surname appeared 924 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 Rhett.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rhett 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 Rhett

The surname Rhett originated in England, deriving from an Anglo-Saxon word meaning "stream" or "small river." It is believed to have first emerged in regions like Devon and Somerset, where many small rivers and streams flow.

One of the earliest known records of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was recorded as "Reate" and "Reat." Variations like "Rhet" and "Rhett" appeared in later centuries.

By the 12th century, the name had become associated with several place names in the southwest of England, such as Rhet Moor in Somerset and Rhet Hill in Devon. Some early bearers of the surname may have taken their names from these locations.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named John de Rhet was recorded as a landowner in Somerset. Around the same time, a William Rhett was listed as a resident of Devon in the Hundredorum Rolls.

Over the following centuries, the Rhett family spread across England, with branches establishing themselves in different regions. In the 16th century, a Robert Rhett was born in Kent, and his descendants later emigrated to America.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Rhett was Robert Barnwell Rhett (1800-1876), a prominent politician and secessionist from South Carolina. He played a significant role in the lead-up to the American Civil War.

Another noteworthy figure was Colonel William Rhett (1666-1723), a British military officer and early settler in South Carolina. He was instrumental in establishing the colony's defenses against Spanish and Native American threats.

In the literary realm, the name gained recognition through the character of Rhett Butler in Margaret Mitchell's novel "Gone with the Wind" (1936). Although a fictional character, Rhett Butler became an iconic figure in American popular culture.

Other historical figures with the Rhett surname include Robert Rhett (1788-1859), a South Carolina politician and judge, and Robert Barnwell Rhett Jr. (1833-1908), a Confederate officer and planter from South Carolina.

While the surname Rhett is not among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has a rich history dating back to its Anglo-Saxon origins and has been borne by notable individuals across various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rhett

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

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

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

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