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

Whelpley, 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 Whelpley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whelpley in America

Whelpley is the 29334th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whelpley surname appeared 806 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 Whelpley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whelpley 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 Whelpley

Whelpley is a surname with roots primarily in England, dating back several centuries. The name's origin can be traced to the Anglo-Saxon period, likely emerging during the early medieval era. The regions most commonly associated with the surname include counties in England such as Yorkshire and Lancashire, areas known for their rich history and deep-rooted Anglo-Saxon culture.

The name Whelpley is believed to have originated from the Old English words "hwael" meaning whale and "leah" meaning clearing or meadow. It might have been used to denote someone who lived near a meadow where whales or large sea creatures were once seen or, more poetically, a place that was vast and expansive like a whale. The earliest variations of the surname would have included spellings such as Whalley, Whaley, and Whelpy, as the orthographic conventions were not standardized during that period.

One of the earliest documented appearances of a similar surname can be noted in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a location named "Whalley" in Lancashire is recorded. While Whalley and Whelpley are not the same, the linguistic roots suggest a common origin. The specific spelling "Whelpley" became more recognized in written records around the 14th and 15th centuries.

Historical records from the 16th century show a John Whelpley, born in 1543, who was a minor landowner in Lancashire. Another early notable figure is William Whelpley, born in 1611, who immigrated to the American colonies, establishing the name in the New World.

In the 17th century, references to Sir Thomas Whelpley, born in 1638, appear in English court records. He was known for his involvement in local governance and land management in Yorkshire. Additionally, Margaret Whelpley, born in 1690, is recorded as a benefactor to local parishes, suggesting the family's integration into the religious and social fabric of their communities.

Moving into the 18th century, records indicate that James Whelpley, born in 1745, was an influential figure in agricultural advancements in Warwickshire. His contributions to farming techniques were noted in local agricultural journals of the time.

By the 19th century, individuals like George Whelpley, born in 1823, gained recognition as a tradesman and local politician in London. He was instrumental in early industrial developments and often engaged in public speaking and civic duties.

The surname Whelpley, with its rich history and various notable individuals across centuries, is an excellent example of the evolution of names through linguistic transformation, migration, and social integration in English history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whelpley

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

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

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

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