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

Whitecloud, 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 Whitecloud surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whitecloud in America

Whitecloud is the 123064th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whitecloud surname appeared 140 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 Whitecloud.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whitecloud 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 Whitecloud

The surname Whitecloud has a fascinating and rich history rooted in its distinctive imagery. Although it might seem like a modern creation, this surname actually has deeper historical significance. The name Whitecloud can be traced back to Native American heritage, particularly among tribes from the Great Plains and Southwestern United States, where names often reflect natural elements and phenomena.

The earliest forms of the name likely did not exist in written records due to the oral traditions of Native American cultures. However, European settlers who came to North America in the 17th and 18th centuries began documenting Native American interactions and trading records, wherein names like Whitecloud would have first appeared in written form. Its meanings tie to purity (white) and ephemerality or dreams (clouds), symbolizing a person of high status or spiritual significance within the tribe.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Whitecloud can be found in the late 18th century. Chief Whitecloud, born around 1780 and died circa 1834, was an influential leader of the Ioway tribe. His legacy includes efforts to maintain peace between his people and European settlers. Another prominent figure was Mahaska Whitecloud, also known as Francis Whitecloud, born in 1810 and died in 1856, who was the son of a chief and made significant contributions as a leader during a tumultuous period of American history.

In the 19th century, another noted individual was Reverend Chauncey Yellow Robe Whitecloud, born in 1875 and died in 1930. He was an educator and advocate for Native American rights, instrumental in bridging the cultural gap between Native Americans and Europeans. Mari Sandoz, an acclaimed author of Native American descent, frequently referenced the Whitecloud family in her works, which popularized the name further in American literature.

By the early 20th century, the name Whitecloud had become more familiar in American society. Charlie Whitecloud, born in 1905 and died in 1953, was a notable artist and sculptor whose works often depicted Native American heritage and folklore. His contributions to the arts helped preserve and celebrate the rich cultural history intrinsic to the name.

These historical contexts and notable figures highlight the importance and legacy of the Whitecloud surname, a name that remarkably captures the essence of Native American heritage and its integration into broader American history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whitecloud

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Whitecloud, 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!