Where did the surname White originate?

English, Scottish, and Irish: from Middle English whit ‘white’, hence a nickname for someone with white hair or an unnaturally pale complexion. In some cases it represents a Middle English personal name, from an Old English byname, Hwit(a), of this origin.

How old is the surname White?

The White family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most White families were found in the USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 17,533 White families living in London.

Is the name White Irish?

The distinguished surname White came from England to Ireland in several different waves, beginning with the Anglo- Norman invasion of the 12th century. As an Irish name, this name has been used as a translation of various Gaelic names incorporating the Gaelic word, “bán,” which means “white.”

Is White an Anglo Saxon name?

Hwit is on Old English word, spoken by the Anglo-Saxons, German tribes who began to invade England as early as the 5th century. The Anglo-Saxons were also the first to start using the word white as a surname for a person who had light hair or a fair complexion.

How common is the surname White?

White is the 16th most common surname in England, the 20th most common last name in America, and the 10th most popular name in Australia.

What ethnicity is the last name White?

White Family History White is a nickname meaning ‘of fair complexion’, from a person with pale skin. Variants include Whyte. This name is of Anglo-Saxon descent spreading to the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts throughout the above islands.

Where does the surname White mean?

White is usually a descriptive name or nickname given to a person with very light hair or complexion, from the Middle English whit, meaning “white.” The last name White may be also local, derived from the Isle of Wight, on the coast of Hampshire, England.

What is the most common white last name?

SMITH

name	rank	White percent
name SMITH	rank 1	White percent 70.90%
name JOHNSON	rank 2	White percent 58.97%
name WILLIAMS	rank 3	White percent 45.75%
name BROWN	rank 4	White percent 57.95%