Surname Witfield - Meaning and Origin
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Witfield: What does the surname Witfield mean?
The last name Witfield is an English name derived from several possible sources. One possible origin is from the Old English term witefeld meaning “white field.” Since soil color could be quite varied in the Middle Ages, a white-colored field would have been quite noticeable and memorable. Thus, it's plausible that the term witefeld came to prominence as a surname for people associated with a particularly well-known white-colored field.
Another possible origin of the name is the combination of two Old English terms: wītan, meaning “the keeping of justice,” and feld, which is a variant of the term felden, meaning a “field or an open plain,” leading to the meaning of witfield as “the field of justice.” This source of the surname would suggest a family of law keepers and courtiers who lived and maintained justice in a particular area.
Given the varied geographical origin of the surname, there is no single meaning associated with the last name Witfield. It could be indicative of a family that was associated with a particular open field of noticeable white soil or of a family that was dedicated to keeping justice. Whichever the meaning, the name Witfield has a long history and could be associated with various stories from multiple places within England.
Order DNA origin analysisWitfield: Where does the name Witfield come from?
The last name Witfield is common primarily in English-speaking countries today. In the United Kingdom, it ranks as the 8,489th most-common surname. It is also found in the United States, where it is the 4,610th most-common surname, according to the US Census Bureau. In Canada, it is the 4,713th most common name.
In the United States, it is especially concentrated in the Midwest, particularly in Ohio and Indiana. It is also found in other states throughout the Midwest, including Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Michigan, and Kentucky. In the United Kingdom, it is found in many of the large cities such as London and Manchester. In Canada, it is concentrated in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec.
The origins of the name Witfield are unclear, although some suggest it may have Germanic roots. Though its exact origin is unclear, its likely medieval meaning refers to a man from a white field, or one who had his lands near a white field. Additionally, it may have derived from a topographic name, or the name of a local lord. In deed listings, many of the oldest references to Witfield date back to the 14th century in England.
Variations of the surname Witfield
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Witfield are:
Witefeld, Witefelde, Wytefeilde, and Wytefield.
Witefeld is the original version of the Witfield surname. This spelling appears in records dating back to the middle ages in England, with the earliest being found in Yorkshire in the year 1202. It was derived from the Old English words "wite" and "feld," meaning wide open field.
The spelling of Witefelde is also rooted in similar Old English words. This variant first appears in records in the 13th century in Sussex.
The spelling Wytefeilde first appears in the mid-14th century and is derived from the old English word "weite" which means wide. It was often used in the context of describing a large open area and evolved to describe a wide meadow or field.
Wytefield is a variant that first appears in records in the 15th century and is a variation of Wytefeilde.
All of these variants are believed to have originated from the same source and evolved over time as families with the Witfield surname branched off and formed their own branches. As a result, various spellings of the Witfield surname have appeared in records over the centuries.
Famous people with the name Witfield
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- Zac Witfield: Zac is an American actor who is best known for his role as Burt Hummel in the sitcom Glee and as Jesse St. James in the musical movie High School Musical.
- Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson: Ahmir Thompson is an American drummer, musician, and producer. He is the keyboardist and leader of The Roots, which serves as the house band for The Tonight Show.
- Carla Witfield: Carla is an American actress and voice actress who has appeared in film, television, and video games.
- Joe Witfield: Joe is an American actor, writer, producer, and director. He is best known for his role as Brett in the sitcom In the House.
- Bonnie Witfield: Bonnie is an American actress and voice actress. She has co-starred in television programs such as Heroes and starred in Detention: The Series.
- Richard Witfield: Richard is an American attorney and academic. He is a professor emeritus of law at the University of Minnesota and a contributing legal correspondent for The New York Times.
- Miguel Witfield: Miguel is an American singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist for Matt and Kim and for his work with the hip hop duo Black Star.
- Jayla Witfield: Jayla is an American singer-songwriter. She has been featured on Take5's The Other Side and has released her own solo album, W'Happened.
- Maurice Witfield: Maurice is an American politician who served as mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota from 1995 to 2006.