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

Whistler, 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 Whistler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whistler in America

Whistler is the 22047th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whistler surname appeared 1,176 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 Whistler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whistler 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 Whistler

The surname Whistler is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. This surname is an occupational name, derived from the Middle English word "whistle," itself originating from the Old English "hwistlian" or "hwistlere," which means "to whistle" or "one who whistles." The surname likely referred to someone whose job involved whistling, such as a shepherd or a person who led hunting dogs, using whistling as a means of communication.

The earliest known records of the surname Whistler appear in the 13th and 14th centuries, predominantly in the southern counties of England. One of the first documented instances is from the Sussex Subsidy Rolls of 1296, where a Robert le Wistelere is mentioned. This suggests that the name was in use during this period and indicates the presence of individuals who took on such occupational roles in rural communities.

Spelling variations of the surname over time include Wistelere, Wistlere, and Whisteler, reflective of changes in the English language and regional dialects. These variations were common in medieval records due to inconsistent spelling practices and phonetic transcription by scribes.

One notable figure bearing the Whistler surname is John Whistler (1756-1829), an officer in the British Army who later became an American military officer and was one of the founding members of Fort Dearborn, now modern-day Chicago. He emigrated to America following the American Revolution and played a crucial role in early American military history.

Another significant individual is James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834-1903), an American-born, British-based artist famous for his iconic painting "Whistler's Mother." Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, Whistler spent much of his life in Europe, where he became a pivotal figure in the Aesthetic Movement. His innovative style and emphasis on "art for art's sake" influenced generations of artists.

In the field of music, George Washington Whistler (1800-1849), the father of James Abbott McNeill Whistler, is notable. He was a prominent civil engineer and a railroad innovator credited with introducing the steam-powered whistle to American trains, an advancement that had a considerable impact on railway travel and safety.

During the early 17th century, the Whistler family name appears in various parish records in England, providing further evidence of the surname's usage and dispersion. For example, Thomas Whistler, born around 1624, is documented as living in Berkshire, England, indicating the surname's continued presence and familial lineage in different regions.

By tracing the surname Whistler from its origins in medieval England through historical references and notable individuals, we can appreciate its rich and varied history. The name reflects occupational ties to whistling, with documented bearers contributing significantly to military, artistic, and engineering fields across centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whistler

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

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

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

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