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 14,855
General Labourer 1,512
Agricultural Labourer 1,424
Coal Miner 973
Domestic Servant 882
Labourer 787
Dress Maker 786
Living On Own Means 749
Laundress 612
Living On Her Own Means 579
Farmer 577
General Servant Domestic 554
General Servant 546
Farm Labourer 451
Carpenter 415
Gardener 348
Blacksmith 312
Clerk 304
House Keeper 283
Butcher 240
Tailor 240
Grocer 224
Farm Servant 223
Errand Boy 221
Charwoman 212

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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