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

Whitbread, 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 Whitbread surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whitbread in America

Whitbread is the 98099th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whitbread surname appeared 185 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 Whitbread.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whitbread 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 Whitbread

The surname Whitbread traces its origins to England, with records pointing back to the early medieval period, around the 12th to 14th centuries. The name is believed to have originated in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, regions known for their agricultural landscape during that time.

The etymology of Whitbread is relatively straightforward. It derives from the Old English words "hwita" meaning white, and "brēad" meaning bread. This name likely referred to a baker who specialized in making fine white bread, which was considered a luxury item in medieval England, or perhaps a miller who produced white flour.

One of the earliest mentions of a variant of the name occurs in the records of the Domesday Book of 1086, although not directly referenced by the Whitbread form, similar names such as "Witebred" and "Hwitbred" appear. These variations suggest a phonetic lineage leading to the modern spelling.

Among the earliest recorded instances of the name in closer form to its current version is a reference to a Peter Whitbred in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327. Another early occurrence is in the London church records, where John Whitbread is noted in 1552.

One historically significant individual bearing the surname was Samuel Whitbread (1720–1796), an influential brewer and philanthropist who founded Whitbread & Co, a notable brewery in England. This company eventually became one of the oldest and most renowned names in the brewing industry. Another noteworthy Whitbread was his son, Samuel Whitbread (1764-1815), a politician who played a significant role in British politics during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

In addition to these, there was Joseph Whitbread (1799-1861), who was a prominent businessman also involved in the family brewing business. Further back in history, we can trace Edmund Whitbread, born in 1516, an early manifestation of the family name in parish records from Northamptonshire.

Moreover, the surname appears linked to place names, such as Whitbread Close in Bedfordshire, indicating the spread and establishment of the family name in specific regions over time. Another important figure associated with the surname is William Whitbread, a notable academic who contributed significantly to theological studies in the late 1800s.

In summary, the history of the surname Whitbread paints a picture of English heritage, deeply connected to the regions of Norfolk and Suffolk and prominently associated with the profession of baking and milling. Significant historical figures bearing the name have influenced various fields, particularly brewing and politics, etching the Whitbread name into the annals of English history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whitbread

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

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

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

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