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 12,557
Agricultural Labourer 2,182
Labourer 1,780
Domestic Servant 867
General Servant 755
Dress Maker 614
Laundress 554
Servant 447
Carpenter 411
Coal Miner 399
House Keeper 361
Annuitant 358
Farm Labourer 298
Gardener 294
Blacksmith 268
Tailor 247
Cook 243
Lace Maker 223
Shoe Maker 223
Butcher 215
Ag Labourer 211
Nurse 197
Farm Servant 195
Charwoman 191
Dressmaker 179

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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