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

Whitefeather, 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 Whitefeather surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whitefeather in America

Whitefeather is the 75799th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whitefeather surname appeared 254 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 Whitefeather.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whitefeather 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 Whitefeather

The surname Whitefeather has its origins in England, with its recorded history dating back to the medieval period. The name is believed to be derived from a descriptive term originally used to denote someone who was either courageous or displayed some association with purity or peace, as feathers—particularly white ones—were often symbols of these qualities. The Old English word 'hwita' for white and 'feþer' for feather likely combined to give the name its meaning. It was not uncommon during the Middle Ages for surnames to arise from physical characteristics, behaviors, or symbolic elements.

Historically, one of the earliest mentions of a similar name appears in church records from the 13th century. A manuscript from 1237 records a John Whitefeather living in the county of Surrey. This early reference suggests that the name was associated with individuals possibly involved in the clergy or other religious roles, given the symbolism of purity and peace tied to the feathers.

In 1328, another notable individual named Eleanor Whitefeather appears in property records in Warwickshire, suggesting that the name had begun to spread across various regions in England. Eleanor was a landholder, indicating a certain degree of social status and wealth. The use of the surname by a woman of property assists in understanding its respectable connotations during that period.

Further along the historical timeline, a soldier named Richard Whitefeather was recorded to have fought in the Hundred Years' War, specifically in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. His participation in this historic conflict highlights the surname's presence among individuals known for bravery, aligning with the name's connotation of courage.

In 1587, a record of a merchant named Thomas Whitefeather from London provides evidence of the name's prevalence into the Elizabethan era. Thomas was known for his trade in textiles, a common and respected profession during the time, emphasizing the surname's continued association with people of notable standing in their communities.

Another significant historical reference is found with a certain Anne Whitefeather, whose will was probated in 1674 in the County of Kent. Her will lists substantial bequests to several charitable organizations, indicating her social influence and the prosperity associated with the Whitefeather name during the post-Restoration period.

The surname Whitefeather, with its rich history and evocative meaning, spans centuries of English history, marked by various prominent individuals who carried it. This lineage not only reflects the socio-cultural contexts of medieval and early modern England but also the enduring qualities symbolized by the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whitefeather

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

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

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