White Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

White Name Meaning: Nickname often given to those with a pale complexion or fair coloured hair, derives from the Old English word 'Whit'. May also be linked to the Isle of Wight in England, and the Anglo-Saxon word 'wiht' which means valiant. Also derived from the Old English fisrt name 'Hwit'

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

White Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the White family

Profession Census Frequency
Scholar 7,217
Agricultural Labourer 2,597
House Servant 1,167
Labourer 1,137
At Home 746
Servant 661
Farm Labourer 580
Dress Maker 547
Laundress 369
Annuitant 317
General Servant 295
Carpenter 293
Lace Maker 266
Pauper 237
Errand Boy 230
Shoe Maker 226
Tailor 226
House Keeper 220
Gardener 198
Scholar At Home 192
Blacksmith 191
Ag Lab 189
Coal Miner 188
Butcher 156
Cook 151

White Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 White 100% 654,575
2 Wight 20% 6,222
3 Wheat 40% 5,509
4 Whyte 80% 4,955
5 Whaite 83% 1,179
6 Whait 60% 641
7 Whate 80% 519
8 Whit 80% 411
9 Whitte 83% 410
10 Wheate 67% 279
11 Whtie 60% 184
12 Whte 80% 125
13 White House 45% 104

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The surname White is the most popular version of all its varients

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