Faith
A rare surname that likely began as a devotional or virtue-based nickname, or from a saint’s name or feast day.
The #8,323 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 77,555 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname was explained by 19th-century writers as coming from the Christian virtue of faith, probably as a sobriquet for someone known for piety or steadfast belief. Another plausible route is from the medieval female given name Faith, itself tied to the virtue name and to the cult of St. Faith (Latin Fides), whose feast day was widely observed. The name may also have been used for someone connected with a mystery play or for a child born on St. Faith’s day.
History
The surname is uncommon and appears in English records as a virtue-name surname. Early surname writers treated it as one of several names drawn from Christian concepts or saints’ feast days, alongside names like Noel and Pentecost. Modern bearers are likely descended from one or more independent origins rather than a single family line.
Origin
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Fun fact
Lower specifically suggested that FAITH may have been given to someone who personated the Christian virtue in a medieval miracle play.
From the historical record
“their family. FAITH. From one who personated this Christian virtue in some medieval miracle play. The anniversary of St. Faith, virgin and martyr, occurs in the Pioman calendar on the 6th of October ; perhaps the original owner of this surname was born on that day. See Christmas, Noel, Pentecost, &c. FAITHFUL.…”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom