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

Whiteford, 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 Whiteford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whiteford in America

Whiteford is the 18766th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whiteford surname appeared 1,461 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Whiteford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whiteford 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 Whiteford

The surname Whiteford has its origins in the United Kingdom, specifically Scotland. Derived from Old English elements, it likely stems from the words "hwita" meaning "white" and "ford" meaning "river crossing." The range and application of these terms suggest that the name may have been used to describe either a geographic feature or a significant landmark within a community.

Early place name references related to Whiteford can be traced to regions such as Perthshire and Lanarkshire in Scotland. These areas have historically been known for their rivers and fords, where such a description would be apt. The name has also appeared in historical documents dating back to the medieval era, though precise records of its first usage can be somewhat challenging due to the changing orthographic practices of the time.

One of the earliest known instances of the Whiteford surname occurs in the historical records of the 13th century. An early mention can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where members of the nobility and landowners in Scotland pledged allegiance to King Edward I of England. These rolls feature a John de Whiteford as a signatory, indicating the surname's established presence by the late 13th century.

Throughout the centuries, the name Whiteford has appeared in various official documents and charters. Sir Adam Whiteford of Dunduff, who lived during the 15th century, is a notable figure associated with this surname. Sir Adam held lands in Renfrewshire and maintained a significant social standing within the local Scottish gentry.

In the mid-16th century, another distinguished bearer of the surname was Alexander Whiteford. Serving as a legal official in Edinburgh, Alexander Whiteford was an advocate whose legal expertise was well-regarded during the height of the Renaissance in Scotland. His contributions to the legal institutions of the period added to the prominence of the surname.

Jumping to the 18th century, Lieutenant Edward Whiteford of the British Army's 78th Highlanders is another historically significant figure. Born in 1722, he served with distinction during the Jacobite Rebellions and later in various military campaigns abroad. His career highlights the reach and influence of the Whiteford name within both military and civilian circles of British society.

In the realm of exploration and science, Dr. Robert Whiteford, born in 1799, made remarkable contributions during the 19th century. As a noted botanist, his research and publications on British flora helped advance the field and brought recognition to his surname.

The surname Whiteford carries a rich history embedded within the topographic and societal fabric of Scotland and the broader United Kingdom. From medieval landowners and nobles to legal officials, military officers, and scientists, the Whiteford name has been associated with various prominent individuals who have left significant marks on historical records over several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whiteford

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

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

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

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