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

Whipkey, 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 Whipkey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whipkey in America

Whipkey is the 15056th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whipkey surname appeared 1,961 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 Whipkey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whipkey 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 Whipkey

The surname Whipkey is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from an occupational name or a locational name related to the production or use of whips.

One theory suggests that the name Whipkey is an anglicized version of the Old English word "hwæpere," which means "maker of whips." This points to the possibility that the earliest bearers of this surname were craftsmen involved in the manufacturing of whips, a valuable tool in various industries and trades at the time.

Another theory links the name to a place name, possibly a location where whips were produced or where a whip-making industry thrived. In this case, the surname could have originated as a descriptive name referring to someone who lived near or was associated with such a place.

Historical records indicate that the surname Whipkey first appeared in the Huntingdonshire area of England during the 13th century. One of the earliest known references is found in the Pipe Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, which mentions a "Robert le Whipker."

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not include the surname Whipkey explicitly. However, it does list several individuals with similar occupational names, such as "Willelmus Corderius" (a rope maker) and "Radulfus Cordewanarius" (a cord maker), suggesting the existence of related trades at the time.

In the 14th century, the surname Whipkey appeared in various spellings, including "Whipkey," "Whipker," and "Whipker." These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation common in medieval times.

One notable figure bearing this surname was Sir John Whipkey (c. 1325 - 1398), a landowner and knight who served in the armies of Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. Records from the time mention his participation in the Siege of Calais in 1347.

Another historical figure was Richard Whipkey (c. 1450 - 1521), a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol. He is recorded as having played a significant role in the city's governance and trade affairs during the reign of Henry VII.

In the 16th century, a branch of the Whipkey family settled in the county of Yorkshire, where they became prominent landowners and farmers. One notable member was Thomas Whipkey (1570 - 1642), a yeoman farmer who acquired substantial landholdings in the village of Ripon.

During the English Civil War, Captain William Whipkey (1610 - 1670) served in the Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell. He fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644, and was later granted lands in Lincolnshire for his service.

In the 18th century, the Whipkey surname was also found in Scotland, where a branch of the family had likely migrated. One notable figure was Robert Whipkey (1745 - 1823), a Scottish merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Glasgow's development.

Throughout its history, the surname Whipkey has been associated with various occupations, from skilled craftsmen and merchants to landowners and military figures, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and roles of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whipkey

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

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

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

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