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

Whitecotton, 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 Whitecotton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whitecotton in America

Whitecotton is the 20996th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whitecotton surname appeared 1,253 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 Whitecotton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whitecotton 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 Whitecotton

The surname Whitecotton finds its earliest origins in England, likely emerging in the medieval period around the 13th or 14th centuries. It is believed to be predominantly associated with the rural areas, reflecting a connection to agricultural practices and local geography. The name is of locational origin, derived from a place name. This indicates that the initial bearers of the name hailed from a specific locality known for its defining features.

The name Whitecotton can be broken down into two Old English elements: "hwita," meaning white, and "cotton," deriving from "cot," which means a cot or cottage, and "tun," meaning a settlement or enclosure. Together, these elements suggest that the name was originally used to describe a settlement characterized by white cottages or perhaps a place where the soil appeared white in comparison to surrounding areas.

Historical references to the surname Whitecotton appear sporadically in various records and charters. While not appearing in the Domesday Book of 1086, which predates the common use of surnames, the name does show up in later medieval documents. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls from the reign of Edward III (1327-1377), where a John de Whitecotton is mentioned in the county of Warwickshire.

In later centuries, the surname Whitecotton continued to appear in genealogical records. For instance, Thomas Whitecotton, born around 1590, is noted in parish records from Yorkshire, indicating the spread of the name across England. Additionally, Elizabeth Whitecotton, born in 1642 in Lincolnshire, is another noted historical figure, illustrating the persistence of the surname.

The 18th century saw individuals with the surname Whitecotton establishing themselves in new professions. James Whitecotton, born in 1735, became known as a prominent farmer in rural England, highlighting the family's continued association with agricultural pursuits. Meanwhile, Ann Whitecotton, born in 1768, represents another life chronicled in the parish records of London, suggesting a gradual migration towards urban centers.

Moving into the 19th century, the name Whitecotton crossed the Atlantic with early immigrants to the New World. Among these was William Whitecotton, born in 1802, who settled in Virginia and contributed to the establishment of early American communities. His descendants played various roles in local development, adding to the name's legacy on another continent.

Throughout its history, the surname Whitecotton has evolved from a specific locational identifier into a family name carried by individuals across the globe. Though its origins are deeply rooted in English medieval society, the name has found new meanings and contexts through the lives of those who bore it, from rural England to the burgeoning towns of early America.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whitecotton

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

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

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