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In the Genealogy section of About.com the surname White is of English, Scottish, and Irish origin. Alternate spellings of White are Whyte, Whiet, Wight, and Whytte. Here is the link to check it out: http://genealogy.about.com/od/surname_meaning/p/white/htm.
Whilst translating as white, the early name referred either to a baby, one who was unblemished, or it may have been for some nameholders an ethnic term given to a Viking or Anglo-Saxon, who were pale in hair and complexion compared with the original native Celts, who were dark. Another possible origin is residential.