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

Whitcomb, 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 Whitcomb surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whitcomb in America

Whitcomb is the 4263rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whitcomb surname appeared 8,324 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Whitcomb.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whitcomb 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 Whitcomb

The surname Whitcomb has its origins in England, tracing back to the late medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the place name Whitcombe in Dorset or Whitcomb in Gloucestershire. The name is composed of the Old English elements "hwit," meaning white, and "cumb," meaning a valley or hollow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Witecumbe." This entry refers to a location in Somerset. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form, Whitcomb.

In the 13th century, records show a William de Whitcombe from Gloucestershire, indicating the name's association with that county. The "de" prefix signifies the individual's connection to the place Whitcomb.

During the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name was John Whitcomb (c. 1530-1604), an English theologian and Puritan minister. He served as the vicar of Stratford-upon-Avon and was known for his religious teachings.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Elijah Whitcomb (1737-1806), an American farmer and soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. He participated in the Battle of Bunker Hill and other significant engagements.

In the 19th century, John Whitcomb (1817-1894) was a distinguished American educator and author. He served as the principal of the Marlborough High School in Massachusetts and wrote several educational works, including "Common School Grammar" and "The Student's Manual of Geography."

Nathaniel Whitcomb (1824-1890) was a notable American businessman and politician. He founded the Whitcomb Locomotive Works in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and later served as the mayor of that city.

Another notable figure was Charles Whitcomb (1878-1963), an American architect best known for designing several prominent buildings in Portland, Oregon, including the Multnomah County Central Library and the Oregon State Hospital.

While the surname Whitcomb has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through migration and settlement patterns. The name continues to carry its historical connections to its locational origins and has been borne by individuals from diverse walks of life.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whitcomb

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!