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

Whicker, 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 Whicker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whicker in America

Whicker is the 17005th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whicker surname appeared 1,671 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 Whicker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whicker 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 Whicker

The surname Whicker originates from England, specifically in the southwestern counties such as Devon and Somerset. The earliest use of the name can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 12th century. Its likely etymological root is the Old English word "wic", meaning a dwelling or settlement, combined with a secondary part which could potentially be "her" indicating a person or "er" a location. This suggests the surname initially indicated someone from a particular village or settlement.

The name Whicker appeared in a variety of spellings over the centuries, including Wicker, Wiccar, and Wykare. One of the oldest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Devon in 1197, where a John de Wykere is mentioned. This highlights its regional ties to Devon. The surname could also have connections to similar-sounding surnames found in the same areas, suggesting common origins or influences.

One of the earliest historical figures with the surname is Walter Whicker, born around 1320 in Somerset. His name appears in local ecclesiastical documents indicating landownership. This would place the prominence of the surname in the 14th century, indicating it had been established as a hereditary name by this time.

Richard Whicker, a notable figure born in 1455, was a merchant in the town of Exeter, Devon. His activities in trade and local politics are recorded in town records, showcasing the name's continued presence and significance in southwest England.

In the late 16th century, Ann Whicker, born in 1570, is recorded as being one of the early settlers to the New World colonies. She travelled in 1597 to Virginia, suggesting that the name had not only sustained in England but had started to spread to the colonies, further diversifying its lineage.

Another prominent individual is Edward Whicker, born in 1575 and known for his involvement in the English Civil War as a Royalist supporter. His actions and eventual capture are noted in military records from the 1640s, demonstrating the family's ongoing influence in regional and national affairs.

Lastly, Alan Whicker, born in 1921 and passed away in 2013, was a distinguished British journalist and television presenter. Though from modern times, his career spanned several decades and brought significant visibility to the surname Whicker.

The Whicker surname thus encapsulates a rich history from its origins in medieval England, marked by its continuous presence and evolution through centuries, across regions and even oceans, reflecting broader historical movements and social developments.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whicker

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

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

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

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