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

Whitebear, 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 Whitebear surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whitebear in America

Whitebear is the 81458th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whitebear surname appeared 232 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 Whitebear.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whitebear 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 Whitebear

The surname Whitebear has its origins in Northern Europe, primarily from the regions that are now known as England and Scandinavia. The name is believed to date back to the early Middle Ages, around the 10th to 12th centuries. It likely arose from a combination of Old English and Old Norse languages, a common occurrence due to the Viking influence in England during that time. In Old English, "hwīt" means "white" and in Old Norse, “bjǫrn” means "bear". The name Whitebear would have been indicative of someone strong and resilient, possibly even someone who wore white fur.

The earliest recorded examples of the surname can be traced back to medieval England. An early mention appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a "William Whitebear" was listed as a landowner in the county of Yorkshire. Another early record is a 13th-century document from the archives of Durham Cathedral, referencing a "Haraldus Whitebear", a local merchant known for trading furs and leather goods.

Throughout the centuries, the name Whitebear makes occasional appearances in historical texts and records. In the 14th century, a "John Whitebear" was noted in the annals of the Winchester Guild of Tradesmen, suggesting that the name was common among those involved in crafting and trade. By the 16th century, another notable figure, "Elizabeth Whitebear", appears in court records as having been accused of witchcraft, a charge often levied against women of strong character and influence.

As the centuries progressed, the surname continued to appear sporadically but meaningfully in historical documents. In the 18th century, "Captain Thomas Whitebear" gained some renown as an explorer and merchant in the North Atlantic, contributing to early maps and nautical charts used in subsequent decades.

In the 19th century, "Samuel Whitebear", born in 1799, became a notable figure within the Hudson's Bay Company, where he served as a fur trader and played a significant role in the expansion into the Canadian territories. His contributions to the fur trade era are well-documented in the company’s records and journals. Additionally, around the mid-19th century, "Lucy Whitebear", a prominent suffragist born in 1835, was known for her advocacy for women's rights in the burgeoning industrial cities of Northern England.

The history of the surname Whitebear is rich with connections to trade, strength, and resilience, dating back nearly a millennium. From medieval landowners to influential figures in commerce and social movements, the name has proven to be synonymous with determination and influence across the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whitebear

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

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

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

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