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 17,298
Agricultural Labourer 1,936
General Labourer 1,031
Labourer 985
Domestic Servant 922
Dress Maker 831
General Servant 727
Coal Miner 713
Laundress 603
Farm Labourer 483
Annuitant 412
Carpenter 383
General Servant Domestic 327
Charwoman 279
House Keeper 264
Servant 258
Gardener 235
No Occupation 230
Tailor 219
Butcher 199
Shoe Maker 191
Painter 178
Joiner 177
Bricklayer 172
Blacksmith 162

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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