Tittle
A diminutive occupational surname for a small person or a nickname for someone with a small head.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,038 Americans carry the last name Tittle. That puts it at #7,647 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.47 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 68,034 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Tittle surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
5.0K
1 in 68,034
Census rank
#7,647
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,343 bearers of the surname Tittle in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.47 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 7647th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Tittle, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.1%. The next largest groups are Black (7.5%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Tittle
The surname Tittle is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word "titel", which means a small piece or fragment. This surname is believed to have originated in the 12th century and was likely initially given as a nickname to someone who was small in stature or had a petite frame.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname Tittle can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk, dating back to 1195, where a person named Walter Tittle was mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the end of the 12th century.
In the 13th century, the surname Tittle appeared in various records, including the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1236, which mentioned a Robert Tittle. The Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, compiled in 1273, also referenced a William Tittle.
One notable early bearer of the surname Tittle was John Tittle, a landowner and tenant farmer who lived in the village of Great Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire, in the late 14th century. Records from the Manor Court Rolls of Great Wilbraham mention John Tittle several times between 1380 and 1395.
In the 15th century, the surname Tittle was found in various parts of England, including Kent, where a John Tittle was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of 1428. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Wiltshire in 1472 also mentioned a Thomas Tittle.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Tittle was William Tittle, who was born in Gloucestershire in 1512. He was a renowned scholar and author, known for his work on English grammar and rhetoric.
Another notable bearer of the surname was Robert Tittle, born in Lincolnshire in 1596. He was a successful merchant and entrepreneur who established a thriving textile business in London.
In the 17th century, the surname Tittle was found in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, where a Richard Tittle was born in 1623. He later became a prominent landowner and served as a local magistrate.
The surname Tittle continued to be found throughout England in the 18th and 19th centuries, with bearers of the name residing in various counties, including Dorset, Somerset, and Lancashire.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Tittle
Among Census respondents with the surname Tittle, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.1%. The next largest groups are Black (7.5%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Tittle bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Tittle surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White87.1%
- Black or African American7.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- Two or more races2.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Tittle surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,647 | #7,647 | 0.0% |
| Count | 4,343 | 4,343 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.47 | 1.47 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Tittle bearers went from 4,343 to 4,343 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #7,647 to #7,647.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Tittle
FAQ
Tittle surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Tittle?
The surname Tittle holds position #7,647 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 5,038 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.47 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Tittle surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Tittle, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.1%. The next largest groups are Black (7.5%) and Hispanic (2.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.