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

Witfield, 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 Witfield surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Witfield in America

Witfield is the 145220th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Witfield surname appeared 114 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 Witfield.

The history of the last name Witfield

The surname Witfield traces its origins to medieval England, emerging as early as the 12th century. The name is believed to have originated predominantly in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, where many early records of the name have been found. It is derived from Old English elements "hwit," meaning "white," and "feld," signifying "field" or "open land." Essentially, the name Witfield would have described a person who lived by or worked in a white or pale field.

Historical documents from medieval England provide some of the earliest mentions of the surname Witfield. The name appears in various spelt forms in these records, including Witefeld and Wytfelde. One of the earliest references can be found in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219, where a Robert de Witefelde is listed. This early record indicates that the name was already established in the region by the early 13th century.

An important historical figure bearing the Witfield surname is Henry Witfield, born in 1550, who played a notable role in local governance in Lancashire. His incumbency as a town alderman is well-documented in town records from the late 16th century. Additionally, Agnes Witfield, born in 1572, is noted for her charitable works and contributions to the church in Yorkshire, showing that members of the Witfield family were active and influential within their communities.

The parish records from the early 17th century include the name Richard Witfield, born in 1633, known for his work as a yeoman farmer in Lancashire. His diligent farming practices earned him recognition, and his name appears frequently in agricultural and tenancy records from that period. Another prominent figure is Thomas Witfield, born in 1659, who served as a justice of the peace and is mentioned in various legal documents that outline his contributions to maintaining local law and order.

In the 18th century, the Witfield surname continued to be found primarily in northern England. One of the notable bearers during this period was John Witfield, born in 1718, whose work as an apprentice and later as a master blacksmith is well-documented in guild records. His craftsmanship and the tools produced by his forge were renowned across the county, and several historical manuscripts reference his contributions to the trade.

The Witfield surname, while not immensely common, has established a significant presence through its historical roots in medieval England. The documented records and notable individuals bearing this name shed light on the various roles played by the Witfield family over the centuries, from agriculture and craftsmanship to governance and charity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Witfield

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

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 Witfield 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.

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

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

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