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

Whitelaw, 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 Whitelaw surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whitelaw in America

Whitelaw is the 21568th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whitelaw surname appeared 1,210 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 Whitelaw.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whitelaw 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 Whitelaw

The surname Whitelaw finds its origins in Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. The name is topographical, derived from the Old English words "hwit," meaning white, and "hlaw," meaning hill or mound. This suggests that the original bearers of the name likely lived near a notable white hill or mound, characteristic of the landscape in certain parts of Scotland.

Early references to the surname can be traced to historical documents and land charters in Scotland. One of the earliest recorded instances is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where a John de Whitelow is mentioned. This document, essentially a homage to Edward I of England by Scottish nobles, captures the name Whitelaw in a period of significant national strife and medieval documentation.

The name also appears in various records as part of medieval Scotland's feudal landscape. For example, a William de Whitelaw is noted in a 14th-century land grant document referring to estates located in Midlothian, a region near Edinburgh known for its rolling hills and open spaces which could likely align with the description 'white hill.'

An earlier variant spelling of the place name as “Whyte․lau” was also recorded, reflecting the linguistic shifts over centuries. By the 16th century, the name had become more common, with several families in the Scottish Lowlands bearing the name. Another well-documented person with this surname was Robert Whitelaw, born around 1450, who served as a cleric and notable scholar of his time.

In the 18th century, James Whitelaw (1749–1813) was a distinguished Irish priest and statistician, known for his extensive work in documenting population statistics in Dublin. His contributions to the understanding of demographic trends in Dublin remain significant.

Moving into the 19th century, Alexander Whitelaw (1823-1879) emerged as a notable figure. He was a Scottish ironmaster and Member of Parliament for Glasgow, known for his industrial leadership and philanthropic efforts, contributing immensely to the iron industry and labor reforms of his time.

In more recent history, Viscount Whitelaw (William Stephen Ian Whitelaw, 1918-1999), a prominent British Conservative politician, played a crucial role in the government of Margaret Thatcher in the late 20th century. His contributions solidified the significance of the surname in British political history.

Overall, Whitelaw is a surname with profound historical roots in Scotland, its significance growing through various esteemed individuals, documented in manuscripts and records spanning the centuries. The geographical significance of the name highlights the interplay between the land and the lineage, with each Whitelaw contributing to the tapestry of history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whitelaw

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

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

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

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