Find out how popular the last name Weatherby is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Weatherby.

Weatherby, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Weatherby surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Weatherby in America

Weatherby is the 12276th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Weatherby surname appeared 2,533 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Weatherby.

We can also compare 2010 data for Weatherby to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Weatherby

The surname Weatherby is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is considered a locational surname, derived from a place name that referred to a particular town or village. One possible derivation is from the Old English words "wether" meaning a castrated ram, and "by" meaning a farmstead or village, suggesting the name may have originated in a rural area known for its sheep farming.

Another theory suggests the name Weatherby may be related to the Old Norse word "veðr," meaning storm or wind, combined with the Old English "by," potentially indicating a settlement exposed to harsh weather conditions. However, the exact origin remains uncertain due to the lack of definitive historical records.

The earliest known reference to the Weatherby surname can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where the name appears as "Wederbi" in the county of Yorkshire. This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and taxation across England.

One notable bearer of the Weatherby name was Sir Robert Weatherby (c. 1450-1528), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire. He served as Lord Mayor of York in 1506 and was a prominent figure in the city's governance during the Tudor period.

Another individual of historical significance was William Weatherby (1620-1689), a Puritan clergyman who emigrated from England to Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century. He served as the minister of the First Church of Ipswich and played a role in the early religious and cultural life of the colony.

In the 18th century, John Weatherby (1738-1810) gained recognition as a renowned gunsmith in London. His firearms, renowned for their craftsmanship and accuracy, were highly sought after by noblemen and sportsmen of the era.

During the Victorian era, James Weatherby (1825-1891) made his mark as a renowned horse racing official and bookmaker. He founded Weatherbys, a company that continues to serve as one of the leading authorities in the administration of British horse racing.

It's worth noting that variations in spelling, such as Wetherby, Wederby, and Wedderby, were common throughout history, likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping methods of the time.

While the Weatherby surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and continues to be borne by individuals across various cultures and backgrounds.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Weatherby

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Weatherby.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Weatherby was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Weatherby has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Weatherby was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Weatherby, please contact us.

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