2000
#122,534
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 130
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Whiteing
A surname derived from the occupation of whitener or bleacher.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 117 Americans carry the last name Whiteing. That puts it at #154,755 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,929,524 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Whiteing surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Whiteing with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
117
1 in 2,929,524
Census rank
#154,755
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
102
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 102 bearers of the surname Whiteing in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 154755th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Whiteing, the largest self-reported group is White at 57.8%. The next largest groups are Black (40.2%) and Two or More Races (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Whiteing
The surname Whiteing has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is primarily found in the southern and eastern counties of England. The name derives from the Old English word "hwita," meaning "white," combined with the patronymic suffix "-ing," implying "descendant of" or "associated with." This suggests that the surname could originally have been a distinguishing nickname for someone with notably fair hair or complexion or could indicate someone from a place characterized by its whiteness, such as chalky hills or fields.
Early spellings of the name have varied, with occurrences such as Witing, Whyting, and Whiting found in historical documents. One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname in historical records is in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a Wulfwynn Hwit is mentioned, though this predates the more common use of the specific surname Whiteing. The Domesday Book provides critical insight into landholding patterns in England just after the Norman Conquest, though the detailed recording of surnames as we now understand them came later.
Another early reference to the name can be seen in the Subsidy Rolls of the 14th century, where a John Whiteing is listed, indicating the name was already in use by the common folk of England. The Poll Tax records of 1379 also mention a Robert Whiteing in Yorkshire, suggesting the spread of the name beyond its probable region of origin.
Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Whiteing is Richard Whiteing (1840–1928), an esteemed journalist, writer, and social reformer. His contributions to literature and journalism included his novel “No. 5 John Street,” which provided deep social commentary on the life of the urban poor in London. Another distinguished person is William Whiteing, a 16th-century landowner whose legal disputes and property transactions in various court records, including the Court of Common Pleas, provide a glimpse into the social standing of some Whiteings during that era.
In the 17th century, Sarah Whiteing appears in parish records as an individual of note in her community for her charitable contributions and involvement in local governance, reflecting the evolving roles and recognition of individuals with this surname in English society.
James Whiteing, born in the early 19th century, gained recognition as a pioneer in the cotton industry during the Industrial Revolution. His work in cotton mills in Lancashire showcases the surname’s presence and influence in the burgeoning industrial landscapes of England.
Another significant figure is Thomas Whiteing, who served as a member of the clergy in the late 18th century. His sermons and pastoral care around the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk left a lasting impact on the religious communities he served.
Through documented evidence and historic references, the Whiteing surname captures a vivid slice of English history, spanning various regions and societal roles while remaining anchored in its etymological roots tied to physical characteristics and familial connections.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Whiteing
Among Census respondents with the surname Whiteing, the largest self-reported group is White at 57.8%. The next largest groups are Black (40.2%) and Two or More Races (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Whiteing bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Whiteing surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White57.8% · 59
- Black or African American40.2% · 41
- Two or more races2.0% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Whiteing
Whiteing appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#129,825
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 131
+1 bearers (+0.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 7,291 places
2020
#154,755
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
-29 bearers (-22.1%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 24,930 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #122,534 | 130 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #129,825 | 131 | 0.04 | +1 bearers (+0.8%) | Down 7,291 places |
| 2020 | #154,755 | 102 | 0.03 | -29 bearers (-22.1%) | Down 24,930 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Whiteing surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #129,825 | #154,755 | -19.2% |
| Count | 131 | 102 | -22.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -14.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Whiteing bearers went from 131 to 102 (-22.1% change). The surname moved down 24,930 positions in the national ranking, going from #129,825 to #154,755.
FAQ
Whiteing surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Whiteing?
Name Census estimates that about 117 living Americans carry the surname Whiteing. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,929,524 residents.
How common is Whiteing?
Whiteing ranks #154,755 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 102 people with the surname Whiteing. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (117), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Whiteing.
Has Whiteing become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Whiteing went from 131 recorded bearers to 102. That is a decrease of 29 (-22.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #129,825 to #154,755.
What does the Census say about the background of Whiteing?
Among Census respondents with the surname Whiteing, the largest self-reported group is White at 57.8%. The next largest groups are Black (40.2%) and Two or More Races (2.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Whiteing in the 2020 Census, accounting for 57.8% (59 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Whiteing appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (57.8%), Black (40.2%), Two or More Races (2.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Whiteing (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Whiteing mean?
A surname derived from the occupation of whitener or bleacher. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Whiteing (0.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Whiteing?
Find out how common the surname Whiteing is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.