An Irish, English and Scottish surname referring to a person of light complexion. From the original Latin language is the word ‘albus’ which means light. The Middle English term of ‘whit’ means white. There was the Anglo-Saxon term of ‘with’ which meant valiant. Also off the coast of the United Kingdom is the Isle of Wight, another form of the surname.

Variations in the spelling of White include Wight, Whyte, Whyette and Whiet.

The surname of White is very common in Scotland and England. It is also found in the United States in the states of Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Virginia, Ohio, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania.

Famous: Reggie White (professional football player), Betty White (actress and comic), Edward Higgins White (for the U.S. in the 1960s), Berry White (singer), Bill White (professional baseball player and president of the National League), Wendy White (professional tennis player), Tim White (news anchor and reporter), Edward Higgins White (United States astronaut) and Peregrine White (first Pilgrim born in the New World in Nov. 20, 1620).