White ( surname ) - wikipedia White ( surname ) See also : Whyte ( surname ) and Wight ( surname ) White is a surname either of English 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 ''. It is the seventeenth most common surname in England. In the 1990 United States Census, `` White '' ranked fourteenth among all reported surnames in frequency, accounting for 0.28 % of the population. By 2000, White had fallen to position 20 in the United States and 22nd position by 2014 Notable people with the surname include : Contents 1 A -- B 2 C -- E 3 F -- I 4 J -- K 5 L -- P 6 R -- S 7 T -- Z 8 Fictional characters 9 References A -- B Aaron White ( basketball ) ( born 1992 ), American basketball player Adam White ( disambiguation ) Adam White ( zoologist ) ( 1817 -- 1879 ), Scottish zoologist Adlyn White ( 1929 -- 2017 ), Jamaican educator and clergywoman Al White ( disambiguation ) Alan White ( Oasis drummer ) ( born 1972 ), onetime drummer in the English rock band Oasis Alan White ( Yes drummer ) ( born 1949 ), English rock drummer known for his work with the progressive rock band Yes Alan White ( disambiguation ) Alex White ( disambiguation ) Alexander White ( Alabama ) ( 1816 -- 1893 ), US Congressman from Alabama Alexander White ( Virginia ) ( 1738 -- 1804 ), US Congressman from Virginia Alexander White ( disambiguation ) Alfred Holmes White ( 1873 -- 1953 ), American chemical engineering professor Alfred Tredway White, American housing reformer Alice White ( 1904 -- 1983 ) Allie White ( 1915 -- 1996 ), American football player Andrew Dickson White, US diplomat and co-founder of Cornell University Andrew White ( disambiguation ) Andy White ( disambiguation ) Anthony White ( disambiguation ) 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 F. White, last governor of Montana Territory Benjamin White, US Representative from Maine Betty White ( born 1922 ) Bill White ( Texas politician ) ( born 19154 ) Bill White ( disambiguation ) Bill White ( first baseman ) ( born 1934 ), American baseball player and baseball executive Bill White ( neo-Nazi ) Bodi White, Louisiana politician Bree White ( born 1981 ), Australian rules footballer Brett White, chief executive officer of the investment firm CBRE Group Brian J. White ( born 1975 ) Brian White ( British politician ) ( 1957 -- 2016 ) Brian White ( Canadian politician ) Brian White ( disambiguation ) Brian White ( ice hockey ) ( born 1976 ), American ice hockey player Brooke White ( born 1983 ), singer - songwriter and American Idol contestant Bryan D. White ( born 1936 ), 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, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States C -- E Cameron White, Australian cricketer Charlie White, American Olympic silver, bronze, and gold medalist ice dancer Charmaine White Face 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 ) Clarence White ( 1944 -- 1973 ), American bluegrass and country guitarist ( Kentucky Colonels, The Byrds ) Colin White ( disambiguation ) Colin White ( ice hockey, born 1977 ) Compton I. White, Jr., US Representative from Idaho Compton I. White, US Representative from Idaho Curtis White, American essayist Dan White ( disambiguation ) Dan White ( 1946 -- 1985 ), American politician and assassin of Harvey Milk Dana White ( born 1969 ), American MMA promoter and president of UFC Danny White ( born 1952 ), American football player Darren White ( disambiguation ) David Patillo White David White ( disambiguation ) Deacon White, aka James `` Deacon '' White, ( 1847 -- 1939 ), baseball star Denny White Des White, New Zealand rugby league footballer Desmond White ( footballer ) ( 1911 -- 1985 ), Scottish footballer Devon White ( baseball ) Doc White, American baseball player Donny White, American college sports coach and administrator Doug White ( news anchor ) ( American ) ( 1944 -- 2006 ) Douglas R. White ( born 1942 ), American anthropologist Duncan White ( 1918 -- 1998 ), Sri Lankan Burgher athlete, first to win medal for Sri Lanka in Olympic event E.B. White ( 1899 -- 1985 ), American children 's book author Ed White ( 1930 -- 1967 ), US 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 Douglass White Edward Higgins White Sr. ( 1901 -- 1978 ), US general Edward White, American Medal of Honor recipient Edward White ( disambiguation ) ( or Ed White ) Elizabeth Coleman White ( 1871 -- 1954 ), pioneering blueberry breeder and vendor Ellen G. White ( 1827 -- 1915 ), American Christian pioneer Erik White, American football player of Canadian football Erik White, American music director Erin White, Canadian softball first baseman Ethel Lina White ( 1876 -- 1944 ), British crime writer F -- I Faye White ( born 1978 ), English football player Florence Mildred White ( 1874 -- 1957 ), English policewoman Francis Buchanan White ( 1842 -- 1894 ), Scottish botanist and entomologist Francis S. White ( 1847 -- 1922 ), US Senator from Alabama Francis White ( Virginia ) ( 1761 -- 1826 ), US Congressman from Virginia Francis White ( disambiguation ) Frank Durward White ( 1933 -- 2003 ), Arkansas governor Frank White ( British politician ) ( born 1939 ), British politician Frank White ( baseball ) ( born 1950 ), American second baseman Frank White ( disambiguation ) Frank White ( governor ) ( 1856 -- 1940 ), American soldier and North Dakota politician Franklin White, British ballet dancer Frederick D. White, Canadian politician Freeman White, American football player Fuzz White, Major League Baseball right fielder Gary White ( disambiguation ) George Henry White, North Carolina politician George White, British general George White ( Ohio politician ) Gilbert F. White ( 1911 -- 2006 ), American geographer Gilbert White ( 1720 -- 1793 ), English naturalist Harry Dexter White, Economist & US representative to the Bretton Woods Conference Henry Luke White ( 1860 -- 1927 ), Australian grazier and ornithologist Henry White ( disambiguation ) Horace White ( writer ) ( 1834 -- 1916 ), American journalist and financial writer Horace White, American lawyer and politician from New York Hugh L. White, American politician from Mississippi Ian White ( ice hockey ) ( born 4 June 1984 ), Canadian professional ice hockey defence man Ilka White, Australian textile artist Israel Charles White ( 1848 -- 1927 ), American geologist J -- k Jack White, First World War Victoria Cross recipient Jack White ( cricketer, born 1891 ) ( 1891 -- 1961 ), English cricket captain Jack White ( disambiguation ) Jack White ( music producer ) ( born 1940 ), German disco music producer Jack White, anarchist and founder of the Irish Citizen 's Army Jack White ( born 1975 ), American singer and guitarist of The White Stripes Jake White ( born 1963 ), South African rugby union coach Jaleel White ( born 1976 ) James L. White ( coach ) ( 1893 -- 1949 ), American college sports coach James Springer White, husband of Ellen G. White and co-founder of the Seventh - day Adventist Church James White aka James Chance ( born 1953 ), American jazz - funk musician James White ( North Carolina politician ) ( 1749 -- 1809 ), member of United States Congress James White ( RAF officer ) ( 1893 -- 1972 ), World War I Royal Naval Air Service fighter ace James White ( Scottish politician ) MP for Glasgow, Pollok before 1987 James White ( author ) ( 1928 -- 1999 ), Northern Irish science fiction writer James White, US basketball player James White ( disambiguation ) James White ( general ) ( 1747 -- 1821 ), founder of Knoxville, Tennessee, USA James White, consultant on the New American Standard Bible committee Jamie White, radio host Jan White ( born 1948 ), American football player Jeff White ( Australian footballer ) Jeordie White aka Twiggy Ramirez ( born 1971 ), American bassist and guitarist Jimmy White, English professional snooker player Jock White, Scottish footballer Joe White ( disambiguation ) John Baker White ( Virginia ) ( 1794 -- 1862 ), Virginia court clerk and civil servant John Franklin White ( 1863 -- 1961 ) Canadian politician John H. White ( photojournalist ) ( born 1945 ), Pulitzer Prize - winning African American journalist John White, member of the Parliament of Tasmania, ( 1986 -- 1998 ) John White ( Conservative MP ) ( 1833 -- 1894 ) Canadian politician John White, ( 1802 -- 1845 ), Speaker of the United States House of Representatives John White ( Liberal MP ) ( 1811 -- 1897 ) Canadian politician John White ( colonist and artist ) ( c. 1540 -- c. 1618 ), Roanoke Colony governor John White ( composer ) ( born 1936 ), German - English experimental composer and musical performer John White ( disambiguation ) John White ( footballer, born 1937 ) ( 1937 -- 1964 ), Scottish footballer John White, English footballer John White ( loyalist ) John White ( squash player ) John White ( surgeon ) ( 1756 -- 1832 ), surgeon - general of New South Wales, Australia 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 Julian White ( born 1973 ), English rugby union footballer Justin White ( born 1987 ), Canadian professional wrestler Karen Malina White ( born 1965 ) Karyn White ( born 1965 ), American R&B singer popular during the late 1980s and early 1990s Katie White ( born 1983 ), British singer in The Ting Tings Keith White ( disabled yachtsman ) ( fl 2015 ) physically disabled yachtsman attempting world solo circumnavigation ( in 2015 / 16 ) Kelli White former American sprinter Kevin White ( American football ) ( born 1993 ), American football player. Kevin White ( athletic director ) Kevin White ( disambiguation ) Kevin White ( mayor ) Knox H. White ( born 1954 ), mayor of Greenville, South Carolina L -- P Lawrence White ( disambiguation ) 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 Leon White ( born 1957 ), American professional wrestler better known as Big Van Vader or Vader Leslie White ( 1900 -- 1975 ), American anthropologist Liz White ( actress ) ( born 1979 ) Loren H. White ( 1863 -- 1923 ), New York state senator Lulu Belle Madison White ( 1900 -- 1957 ), a teacher and civil rights activist Malcolm White ( cricketer ) ( 1924 -- 2009 ), English cricketer Malinda Brumfield White ( born 1967 ), member of the Louisiana House of Representatives Margaret Bourke - White, American photographer and documentary photographer Mark White ( disambiguation ) Mark White American lawyer and politician from Texas Martha White, American bakery brand Mary E. White ( born 1926 ), Australian paleobotanist and author Mary White ( disambiguation ) 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 R. White ( born 1951 ), American politician Michael White ( disambiguation ) Michael White ( journalist ) ( born 1945 ), British newspaper editor Minor White, American photographer Nancy White ( disambiguation ) Noel White, Australian rugby league footballer Onna White, choreographer and dancer Pat White ( multisport athlete ) ( born 1986 ), American football quarterback Patrick White ( 1912 -- 1990 ), Australian author Paul Dudley White ( 1886 -- 1973 ), American cardiologist Percy White, Australian rugby league footballer Peregrine White ( 1620 -- 1704 ), first child born to the Pilgrims in New England Peter White, Canadian parliamentarian Peter White, presenter on BBC Radio Solent and BBC Radio 4 Peter White ( disambiguation ) Peter White ( ice hockey ) ( born 1969 ), Canadian ice hockey player Peter White ( musician ) ( born 1954 ), English smooth jazz and jazz fusion guitarist Portia White ( 1911 -- 1968 ), Canadian operatic contralto R -- S R. Cooper White, Jr. ( 1927 - 2017 ), former mayor of Greenville, South Carolina Randy White ( American football ) ( born 1953 ), NFL defensive lineman and linebacker Randy White ( basketball ) Randy White ( disambiguation ) Randy White ( politician ) Randy White, porn actor Reggie White, American football player Reggie White ( running back ) ( born 1979 ), American football player Reggie White ( 1961 -- 2004 ), American football player Resolved White Rick White ( politician ) Robert J. White ( born 1925 ), American neurosurgeon Robert White ( attorney general ) ( 1833 -- 1915 ), West Virginia attorney general Robert White ( composer ) ( c. 1538 -- 1574 ), English composer Robert White ( disambiguation ) Robert White ( judge ) ( 1759 -- 1831 ), Virginia judge and politician Robert White ( 1982 ), politician in Washington, D.C. Roddy White ( born 1981 ), American football player. Roderick White ( 1814 -- 1856 ), New York politician Rodney White, American basketball player Ron White ( born 1956 ) 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 Sallie Joy White ( 1847 - 1909 ), American journalist Sammy White ( American football ) ( born 1954 ), NFL wide receiver Sammy White ( actor ) ( 1894 -- 1960 ) Sammy White ( baseball ) ( 1928 -- 1991 ), MLB catcher Sammy White ( disambiguation ) Samuel Albert White ( 1870 -- 1954 ), Australian ornithologist Sandra White 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 ) ( born 1950 ) Simon White ( born 1951 ), British astrophysicist Slappy White ( 1924 -- 1995 ) 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 Steve White ( disambiguation ) Steven R. White ( born 1959 ) American physicist Stewart Edward White ( 1873 -- 1946 ), American novelist and outdoorsman Stewart White, British newsreader & presenter T -- Z T.H. White ( 1906 -- 1964 ), English author, famous for The Once and Future King Ted White ( author ) ( born 1938 ), American science fiction writer and music critic Terri White ( born 1948 ) The Whites, American country music vocal group Theodore H. White ( 1915 -- 1986 ), American journalist Thomas E. White, ( born 1943 ), 18th United States Secretary of the Army Thomas White ( Australian politician ) Thomas White ( Sussex cricketer ) ( 1892 -- 1979 ), English cricketer Thomas White ( bishop ) ( 1685 -- 1690 ), bishop of Peterborough Thomas White ( disambiguation ) ( or Tom White ) Thomas White ( scholar ) ( 1593 -- 1676 ), Catholic philosopher Sir Thomas White, founder of St John 's College, Oxford Tim D. White ( born 1950 ), American paleoanthropologist Tim White ( disambiguation ) Tim White ( newscaster / reporter ) ( born 1949 ), American news anchor and investigative reporter Tim White ( wrestling ) ( born 1954 ), American professional wrestling referee Timothy White ( disambiguation ) ( or Tim White ) Timothy White ( editor ) ( 1952 -- 2002 ), American rock music journalist Timothy White, American celebrity photographer Timothy White, ship 's chandler and pharmacist, founder of Timothy Whites Todd White, ice hockey player Tony Joe White ( born 1943 ), American singer - songwriter Tony White ( disambiguation ) 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 Walter Francis White Warren White ( disambiguation ) Wendy Tan White ( born 1970 ), CEO of Moonfruit Wendy White, former American professional tennis player Sir Willard White ( born 1946 ), Jamaican - born British operatic bass - baritone William Alanson White ( 1870 -- 1937 ), American psychiatrist William Allen White ( 1868 -- 1944 ), American newspaper editor, politician, and author William Henry White ( politician ) William Henry White, ( 1845 -- 1913 ), civilian warship designer who principally worked for the British Admiralty William Lindsay White, American journalist William Thomas White, Canadian politician and Cabinet minister William White, signer of the Mayflower Compact William White ( 1571 -- c. 1634 ? ), English composer William White ( disambiguation ) Willie White ( disambiguation ) Fictional characters Cammy White, video game character from the Street Fighter series Carrie White, title character from the Stephen King novel and movie Carrie Frank White, lead character in the 1990 film King of New York Perry White, supporting character in the Superman comics Snow White and the seven Dwarfs Kerwin White, former ring name of Chavo Guerrero, Jr. Mrs. White, one of six original Cluedo characters Redd White, character from the video game Phoenix Wright : Ace Attorney Walter White ( Breaking Bad ), protagonist of the television series Breaking Bad References Jump up ^ White Meaning at Forebears Jump up ^ `` White Family History ''. Jump up ^ `` Irish Surname -- White ''. Jump up ^ Scottish Clans and their Tartans ( 1958 ), W. and A.K. Johnson, p. 22 ^ Jump up to : White Distribution at Forebears Jump up ^ United States Census Bureau ( 9 May 1995 ). 1990 Census Name Files dist. all. last ( 1 -- 100 ). Retrieved on 4 July 2008. Jump up ^ Frequently Occurring Surnames from the Census 2000 This page lists people with the surname White. If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person 's given name ( s ) to the link. Surnames derived from color White English / Celtic Mac Giolla Bháin McIlwain, McIlwain Gwyn / Gwynn / Gwynne Le Guen White, Whyte Wight German / Yiddish Weiss, Weiß, Weisse Weisz ( Hungarian spelling, from Austria - Hungary times ) Other Germanic Hvide Hvidt Vitt Witt De Witt DeWitt de Wit Romance Alba Albu Albus Bianchi, Bianki ( Russified ), Biancini, Bianchini, Bianco Blanc, LaBianca, le Blanc, Leblanc, LoBianco Blanco Branco Blank Slavic Belić, Bijelić Belov Belsky Bely, Belenky Biały, Białas, Białek, Białecki, Białkowski Bielak / Bielák / Belyak, Bielski, Bielecki / / Beletsky, Bieliński / Belinski, Bielawski Bilyi Byelik, Belik, Belyaev, Belyakov, Belykh Other Fehér Baek ( Paek, Baik, Paik ) Bai Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=White_(surname)&oldid=832498547 '' Categories : Surnames English - language surnames Surnames of English origin Scottish surnames Surnames of Scottish origin Surnames of Irish origin Anglicised Scottish Gaelic - language surnames Anglicised Irish - language surnames Hidden categories : EngvarB from July 2016 Use dmy dates from July 2016 All set index articles Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Français Русский Edit links This page was last edited on 26 March 2018, at 11 : 25. 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Question: where does the last name white originate from
Answer: either of English[1] or of Scottish and Irish origin