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

Whitt, 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 Whitt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whitt in America

Whitt is the 2092nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whitt surname appeared 17,293 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Whitt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whitt 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 Whitt

The surname Whitt is an English name that originated in the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "hwit," meaning "white," which was likely an occupational surname given to someone who worked with white materials, such as a miller or bleacher.

The name can be traced back to the 13th century, with records showing variations such as Whyte and Whytte appearing in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Shropshire, and Gloucestershire. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Aleyn Whyt, who was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273.

In the late 14th century, the Whitt surname appeared in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire, indicating its presence in the region during that time. The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Whitt name, but it does mention several locations with similar-sounding names, such as Whitby and Whitwell.

One notable person with the Whitt surname was William Whitt (c. 1610-1684), an English Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of Wickham Market in Suffolk. Another individual of historical significance was John Whitt (1677-1743), a prominent Anglican clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Worcester and Rector of Wootton Wawen in Warwickshire.

In the 16th century, the Whitt surname was found in various locations across England, including Staffordshire, where a record from 1532 mentions a John Whytt. In the 17th century, the name appeared in Gloucestershire, with a baptismal record from 1658 showing a Thomas Whitt.

Other notable individuals with the Whitt surname include James Whitt (1760-1833), an English poet and writer from Gloucestershire, and Thomas Whitt (1805-1877), a British engineer and inventor who patented several improvements to steam engines and agricultural machinery.

While the Whitt surname is predominantly English in origin, it has also been found in other parts of the British Isles and beyond, likely due to migration and intermarriage over the centuries. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it emerged as an occupational name related to the color white.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whitt

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

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

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

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