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

Whitbeck, 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 Whitbeck surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whitbeck in America

Whitbeck is the 17097th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whitbeck surname appeared 1,660 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 Whitbeck.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whitbeck 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 Whitbeck

The surname Whitbeck originally hails from England, specifically from the northern counties. The earliest records point to the region of Cumbria, a land filled with quaint villages and rolling landscapes. The name is thought to have appeared during the Anglo-Saxon period, roughly between the 8th and 11th centuries. It is likely derived from Old English elements: "hwit," meaning "white," and "bec," meaning "stream" or "brook." Collectively, Whitbeck would have signified "the white brook" or "clear stream," describing a geographical feature near where the family resided.

The compound nature of the name makes it topographical, tying its bearers to the terrain. Early documents reveal slightly varied spellings like "Whitbek" and "Whytbek," adaptations reflecting dialect differences and the phonetic drift over centuries. One of the earliest references can be found in the Pipe Rolls from the late 12th century, listing a "Robert de Whitbek" as a landowner in the area.

Medieval charters and manorial records also reference members of the Whitbeck lineage. William de Whitbeck is noted in records from the 14th century as a prominent figure involved in the agrarian economy of Cumbria. Manor court rolls from 1346 mention William assisting with local land disputations, suggesting a position of moderate status.

Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, the surname appears with increasing frequency. Nicholas Whitbeck is a notable individual from the period, born around 1470 and documented as a yeoman farmer in parish records. His kin were mentioned in the context of local church funding and community functions, indicating a well-rooted family presence.

Another key figure is John Whitbeck, born in 1582 and who made his mark as an early settler in the Dutch colony of New Netherland, what we now know as New York. Historical registers indicate that he emigrated in 1623, part of the early wave of European settlers seeking new opportunities.

In the 17th century, Sir Edward Whitbeck, born in 1625, merits a mention as a knight who served under King Charles I during the English Civil War. His staunch Royalist position led to the acquisition of new lands and titles, documented in royal charters.

By the 18th century, another descendant, Mary Whitbeck, recognized for her contributions to the early educational reforms in colonial America, was born in 1715. Her efforts in promoting literacy and the establishment of the first public libraries in her community left a lasting impact, as recorded in early American colonial records.

This tradition of community service and geographical significance characterizes the Whitbeck surname. Each historical bearer contributed to their localities, whether through land stewardship, military service, or educational endeavors.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whitbeck

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

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

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

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