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

Wheater, 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 Wheater surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wheater in America

Wheater is the 109758th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wheater surname appeared 161 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Wheater.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wheater 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 Wheater

The surname Wheater originates from England, specifically from the northern regions such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is believed to have arisen in the Middle Ages, around the 12th to 14th centuries. The name likely derives from the Old English word hwæte, which means "wheat," suggesting that the original bearers of the surname were involved in agriculture, possibly as wheat farmers or millers.

The name Wheater has appeared in various historical documents over the centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire dated 1379, where a John Wheter is mentioned. The document highlights the use of similar spellings such as Wheter, which eventually evolved into the modern-day Wheater.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Wheater name continued to be prevalent in northern England. One notable early mention is that of Robert Wheater, a yeoman recorded in the Wakefield Court Rolls in 1572. These records suggest that the Wheater family had become established landowners, playing a significant role in local agricultural communities.

By the 19th century, several noteworthy individuals with the surname Wheater emerged. One such person was Benjamin Wheater, born in 1802 in Bradford, Yorkshire. He was a prominent solicitor and became the Mayor of Bradford in 1855, reflecting the ascent of the Wheater name into more influential societal positions.

In addition to political figures, the surname is also associated with academia. Thomas Wheater, born in 1840, was a respected schoolmaster in Lancashire. His contributions to education in the region were well-regarded, highlighting the diverse roles people bearing the Wheater surname occupied.

In the realm of sports, Jimmy Wheater, born in 1924 in Leeds, Yorkshire, made his mark as a professional footballer. He played as a goalkeeper for teams like Bradford City and Darlington during the 1940s and 1950s, showcasing the surname's presence in various facets of public life.

Though the surname Wheater is relatively rare, its historical roots clearly trace back to agricultural origins in northern England. The Wheater name has a rich heritage, with instances documented over centuries and its bearers contributing to local politics, education, and sports.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wheater

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

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 Wheater 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 Wheater 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 Wheater was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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