White (surname) explained
White is a surname either of English[1] or of Scottish and Irish origin, the latter being an anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic MacGillebhàin, "Son of the fair gillie" and the Irish "Mac Faoitigh" or "de Faoite".[2] [3] [4] It is the seventeenth most common surname in England.[5] In the 1990 United States Census, "White" ranked fourteenth among all reported surnames in frequency, accounting for 0.28% of the population.[6] By 2000, White had fallen to position 20 in the United States[7] and 22nd position by 2014
Notable people with the surname include:
- White (Hampshire cricketer) (active 1789–1797, full name unknown), English cricketer
- White (Surrey cricketer) (active 1850, full name unknown), English cricketer
A
- Aaron White (basketball) (born 1992), American basketball player
- Adam White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Addison White (1824–1909), American politician
- Adlyn White (1929–2017), Jamaican educator and Christian minister
- Al White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alan White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Albert White (musician) (born 1942), American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter
- Alex White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alexander White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alfred Holmes White (1873–1953), American chemical engineering professor
- Alfred Tredway White (1846–1921), American housing reformer
- Alice White (1904–1983), American actress
- Allie White (1915–1996), American football player
- Andrew Dickson White (1832–1918), American diplomat and co-founder of Cornell University
- Andrew White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Andy White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Anthony White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Azellia White (1913–2019), American aviator
B
- Barclay White (1821–1906), Superintendent of Indian Affairs under President Grant
- Barry White (1944–2003), American soul and disco singer
- Bartow White (1776–1862), US Congressman from New York
- Benjamin White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Betty White (1922–2021), American actress
- Beverly White (1928–2021), American activist and politician
- Bill White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Blaire White (born 1993), American YouTuber and political commentator
- Bob White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Bodi White (born 1956), Louisiana politician
- Bree White (born 1981), Australian rules footballer
- Brendan White (born 1992), Australian association football player
- Brett White (executive), chief executive officer of the investment firm CBRE Group
- Brian White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Brooke White (born 1983), American singer-songwriter and American Idol contestant
- Bruce A. White, American politician
- Bryan D. White (1936–2017), general secretary and CEO of Moose International in Great Britain
- Buck White (born 1930), member of the American country music vocal group The Whites
- Bukka White (Booker T. Washington White) (1909–1977), American Delta blues guitarist and singer
- Byron White (1917–2002), Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
C
- Cameron White (born 1983), Australian cricketer
- Cat White (born 1993), English actress, producer and author
- Charlie White (figure skater) (born 1987), American Olympic silver, bronze, and gold medalist ice dancer
- Charles White (writer) (1845–1922), Australian journalist and author
- Cr1TiKaL (Charles White Jr., born 1994), American YouTuber, Twitch streamer, podcaster, actor, musician, and businessman
- Charline White (1920–1959), Michigan politician
- Charlotte Price White, (1873–1932), Welsh suffragist and politician
- Charmaine White Face, American human rights activist
- Chel White (born 1959), American film director
- Cheryl White (born 1955), member of the American country music vocal group The Whites
- Chilton A. White (1826–1900), US Representative from Ohio
- Christian Streit White (1839–1917), West Virginia politician
- Christopher White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Clarence White (1944–1973), American bluegrass and country guitarist (Kentucky Colonels, The Byrds)
- Claude Porter White (1907–1975), American author and composer
- Coby White (born 2000), American basketball player
- Cody White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Colin White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Colton White (born 1997), Canadian ice hockey player
- Compton I. White (1877–1956), US Representative from Idaho
- Compton I. White, Jr. (1920–1998), US Representative from Idaho
- Curtis White (disambiguation), multiple people
D
- Dan White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Dana White (born 1969), American MMA promoter and president of UFC
- Danny White (born 1952), American football player
- Darren White (disambiguation), multiple people
- David White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Davin White (born 1981), American basketball player
- Deacon White, aka James "Deacon" White, (1847–1939), baseball star
- DeMario White Jr. (born 1991), birth name of Moneybagg Yo, American rapper
- Denny White, Ohio politician
- Derrick White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Des White (1927–2023), New Zealand rugby league footballer
- Desmond White (footballer) (1911–1985), Scottish footballer
- Devin White (born 1998), American football player
- Devon White (baseball) (born 1962), Jamaican American baseball player
- Diamond White (born 1999), American singer and actress
- Doc White (1879–1969), American baseball player
- Donny White (1942–2021), American college sports coach and administrator
- Doug White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Douglas R. White (1942–2021), American anthropologist
- Duncan White (1918–1998), Sri Lankan Burgher athlete, first to win an Olympic medal for Sri Lanka
E
- E. B. White (1899–1985), American children's book author
- Ed White (astronaut) (1930–1967), American astronaut
- Eden White (born 1970), American singer-songwriter
- Edith White (1855–1946), American painter
- Edith Grace White (1890–1975), American zoologist
- Edmund White (born 1940), American literary critic
- Edward White (disambiguation) (or Ed White), multiple people
- Eg White (born 1966 as Francis White), British musician, songwriter and producer
- Eli White (born 1994), American baseball player
- Elizabeth Coleman White (1871–1954), pioneering American blueberry breeder and vendor
- Ellen White (footballer) (born 1989), English footballer
- Ellen G. White (1827–1915), American Christian pioneer
- Elsie Maud White (1889–1978), New Zealand miniaturist
- Erica White (born 1986), American basketball player
- Erica White (artist) (1904–1991), British sculptor
- Erik White, American music director
- Erik White (Canadian football) (born 1970), American football player of Canadian football
- Erin White (born 1977), Canadian softball first baseman
- Estelle White (1925–2011) British hymn composer
- Ethel Lina White (1876–1944), British crime writer
- Evan White (born 1996), American baseball player
F
- Faye White (born 1978), English football player
- Felix Harold White (1884–1945), English composer, music teacher and pianist
- Florence Mildred White (1874–1957), English policewoman
- Francis White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Frank White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Franklin White (dancer) (1923–2013), British ballet dancer
- Fred White (musician) (1955–2023), American musician, member of Earth, Wind & Fire
- Frederick D. White (1847–1918), Canadian politician
- Freeman White (born 1943), American football player
- Freeman White (politician) (born 1946), Canadian politician
- Fuzz White (1916–2003), American Major League Baseball right fielder
G
H
I
J
- Jack White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jahiem White, American football player
- Jake White (born 1963), South African rugby union coach
- Jaleel White (born 1976), American actor
- James White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jamie White (born 1968), American radio host and actress
- Jan White (born 1948), American football player
- Javin White (born 1997), American football player
- Jay White (born 1992), New Zealand professional wrestler
- Jeff White (Australian footballer) (born 1977), Australian rules footballer
- Jeordie White aka Twiggy Ramirez (born 1971), American bassist and guitarist
- Jimmy White (born 1962), English professional snooker player
- Jock White (1897–1986), Scottish footballer
- Joe White (disambiguation), multiple people
- John White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jordan White (musician) (born 1982), American rock musician and singer-songwriter
- Jose White (American football) (born 1973), American football player
- Joseph Blanco White (1775–1841), Spanish theologian
- Joseph Leonard Maries White (1897–1925), Canadian flying ace
- Julian White (born 1973), English rugby union footballer
- JJ White, American musical duo consisting of Janice and Jayne White
K
- Karen Malina White (born 1965), American actress
- Karyn White (born 1965), American R&B singer during the late 1980s and early 1990s
- Katie White (born 1983), British singer in The Ting Tings
- Katie White (politician) (graduated 2003), British politician
- Keion White (born 1999), American football player
- Keith White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Kelli White, American sprinter
- Kerwin White, former ring name of American wrestler Chavo Guerrero, Jr.
- Kevin White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Kyzir White (born 1996), American football player
L
- Lari White (1965–2018), American country music singer
- Laura White (actress) (born 1996), British actress
- Laura Rosamond White (1844–1922), American author
- Lavelle White (born 1929), American Texas blues and soul blues singer and songwriter
- Lawrence White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Lee White (actor) (1888–1949), American actor of the stage, screen and radio
- Lee White (American football) (born 1946), American football player
- Lee C. White (1923–2013), advisor to President Kennedy and President Johnson
- Leo White (1882–1948), English-American film and stage actor who appeared in many Charlie Chaplin films
- Leo White (judoka) (born 1957), member of the US Olympic judo team
- Leon White (1955–2018), American professional wrestler better known as Big Van Vader or Vader
- Leslie White (1900–1975), American anthropologist
- Lily White (photographer) (1866–1944), American photographer
- Linda White (Alpha Kappa Alpha) (1942–2010), American sorority president
- Linda White (politician) (1959/1960–2024), Australian politician
- Liz White (actress) (born 1979), British actress
- Loren H. White (1863–1923), New York state senator
- Lulu Belle Madison White (1900–1957), American teacher and civil rights activist
- Lynn White (musician) (born 1953), American soul blues singer
M
- Malcolm White (cricketer) (1924–2009), English cricketer
- Malinda Brumfield White (born 1967), member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
- Margaret Bourke-White (1904–1971), American photographer and documentary photographer
- Margaret Matilda White (1868–1910), New Zealand photographer
- Marion Ballantyne White (1871–1958), American mathematician and university professor
- Mark White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Marquez White (born 1994), American football player
- Mary White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Mary Louisa White (1866–1935) British composer, educator and pianist
- Maureen White, Canadian theatre director, actor, and playwright
- Maurice White (1941–2016), American musician, founder and leader of the band Earth, Wind & Fire
- Meg White (born 1974), American musician, drummer in The White Stripes
- Michael White (disambiguation), multiple people, includes Mike White
- Minor White (1908–1976), American photographer
- Mitchell White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Molly White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Morgan White (gymnast) (born 1983), American gymnast
- Morgan White (radio DJ) (1924–2010), American radio disc jockey and actor
N
O
- Oliver White (born 1995), British YouTube personality
- Onna White (1922–2005), Canadian choreographer and dancer
P
Q
R
- Rachaad White (born 1999), American football player
- Rachel White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Randy White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Raoul White (born 1972), Dutch politician
- Ray White (politician), Canadian politician
- Reggie White (1961–2004), American football player
- Reggie White (defensive lineman, born 1970), American football player
- Reggie White (running back) (born 1979), American football player
- Rick White (politician) (born 1953), American politician from Washington
- Robert White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Roddy White (born 1981), American football player
- Roderick White (1814–1856), New York politician
- Romello White (born 1998), American basketball player for Hapoel Eilat of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Rodney White (born 1980), American basketball player
- Ron White (born 1956), American comedian
- Rosie White (born 1993), New Zealand soccer player
- Royce White (born 1991), American basketball player
- Ryan White (1971–1990), American HIV/AIDS poster child, namesake of the Ryan White Care Act
- Resolved White (17th century), passenger on the Pilgrim ship Mayflower
S
- Sallie Joy White (1847–1909), American journalist
- Sammy White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Sandra White (born 1951), Scottish politician
- Sharon White, lead singer of American country music group The Whites
- Shaun White (born 1986), American snowboarder and skateboarder
- Sheila White (abolitionist) (born 1988), American abolitionist and human trafficking victim
- Sheila White (actress) (1948–2018), British film, television and stage actress
- Simon White (born 1951), British astrophysicist
- Slappy White (1924–1995), American comedian and actor
- Snowy White (Terence Charles 'Snowy' White) (born 1948), English guitarist
- Spencer White (born 1994), Australian rules footballer
- Stanford White (1853–1906), American architect, member of the firm McKim, Mead, and White
- Stephen White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Steve White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Steven White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Stewart White (journalist) (born 1947), British television newsreader and presenter
- Stewart Edward White (1873–1946), American novelist and outdoorsman
T
- T. H. White (1906–1964), English author, known for The Once and Future King
- Ted White (author) (born 1938), American science fiction writer and music critic
- Terri White (born 1948), American singer and actress
- The Whites, American country music vocal group
- Theodore H. White (1915–1986), American journalist
- Thomas White (disambiguation) (or Tom White)
- Timothy White (disambiguation) (or Tim White)
- Todd White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Tony White (disambiguation), multiple people
- Tony Joe White (1943–2018), American singer-songwriter
- Tre'Davious White (born 1995), American football player
- Tyler White (born 1990), American baseball player
V
- Vanessa White (born 1989), British singer and songwriter
- Vanna White (born 1957), American television personality
- Verdine White (born 1951), American musician, younger brother of Maurice White, bass guitarist in Earth, Wind & Fire
- Vince White (born 1960), English guitarist who replaced Joe Strummer in The Clash
- Violetta Susan White (1875–1949), American mycologist
W
Z
Fictional characters
- Brad White, a character in 2001 psychological horror movie Frailty
- Cammy White, from the Street Fighter video game series
- Carrie White, title character from the Stephen King novel and movie Carrie
- Estelle White, from the Reborn comic book series
- Frank White, lead character in the 1990 film King of New York
- Perry White, supporting character in the Superman comics
- Snow White, protagonist of German fairy tales
- Mrs. White, one of six original Cluedo characters
- Redd White, from the video game Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
- Walter White, protagonist of the American television series Breaking Bad
- Trooper White, a minor character in the video game TimeSplitters 2
Notes and References
- http://forebears.co.uk/surnames/white#meaning White Meaning at Forebears
- Web site: White Family History. .
- Web site: Irish Surname – White.
- Scottish Clans and their Tartans (1958), W. and A. K. Johnson, p. 22
- http://forebears.co.uk/surnames/white#nations2014 White Distribution at Forebears
- [United States Census Bureau]
- https://www.census.gov/topics/population/genealogy/data/2000_surnames.html Frequently Occurring Surnames from the Census 2000
