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

Whitebird, 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 Whitebird surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whitebird in America

Whitebird is the 71678th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whitebird surname appeared 272 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 Whitebird.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whitebird 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 Whitebird

The surname Whitebird is believed to have its origins in England, specifically during the medieval period. The name likely emerged from the habit of naming individuals after notable features in their environment or their characteristics, an Anglo-Saxon practice. The combination of "white," derived from the Old English "hwit," meaning bright or fair, and "bird," from the Old English "brid," meaning young bird, suggests it may have been a descriptive surname. It possibly referred to a person who bore the characteristics of a white bird, such as having pale features or an affinity to birds.

One of the earliest references to a name resembling Whitebird appears in English parish records from the later part of the 15th century. Variants and older spellings of the name might include Whiteberde or Whitbird, indicating the same lineage of nomenclature with slight variations likely due to regional dialects and the orthographic practices of the time. The surname is absent from major documents like the Domesday Book, suggesting it might have gained prominence after the Norman Conquest.

Historical figures with the surname Whitebird include Roger Whitebird, recorded in the 1523 subsidy rolls of Kent, indicating the name was in use in southern England during the early 16th century. Another notable mention is Anne Whitebird, who appeared in the London parish records of the early 17th century around 1621, further consolidating the presence of the surname in England's capital.

In the 19th century, James Whitebird was documented in historical texts as a naturalist and amateur ornithologist, known for his observations and writings on local bird species around the English countryside. Born in 1824 and passing in 1897, James's work contributed to the naturalist movements of the time, highlighting the possibilities of the town and place surnames transforming into personal identifiers linked to certain professions or features.

Moving to the American continent, the surname Whitebird appears among early settler records in the mid-19th century. Elizabeth Whitebird, born in 1845, made her mark as one of the noted school teachers in the midwestern United States, her contribution to early education being part of documented local histories.

Another historically relevant figure was Thomas Whitebird, a figure in the American frontier, documented in 1873. He was known for his interactions and work with various Native American communities during westward expansion, his surname maintaining a hint of traditional English ties yet blending into the cultural mosaic of the American West.

The history of the surname Whitebird, spanning several centuries and moving from England to the broader English-speaking world, illustrates a lineage rich in descriptive origins and personal significance. It encapsulates the journey of a name across different regions and eras, making it a fascinating subject of onomatological study.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whitebird

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

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

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

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