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

Whitelow, 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 Whitelow surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whitelow in America

Whitelow is the 34390th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whitelow surname appeared 659 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 Whitelow.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whitelow 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 Whitelow

The surname Whitelow finds its origins in England, surfacing in historical records as early as the medieval period. Its roots can be traced back to Old English elements, particularly the words "hwit," meaning "white," and "hlaw," signifying a hill or a mound. The combination likely referred to a geographical feature in the landscape, such as a chalky or pale hill, which is a characteristic common in several parts of England.

One of the earliest and most significant records of the name Whitelow appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a manuscript commissioned by William the Conqueror to survey his English territories. Although the exact spelling variations have evolved over time, the Domesday Book provides a glimpse into the nomenclature of the era. The name might have been recorded as Witalawe or Hwitalaw, indicating the characteristic hill in the local topography.

In the 13th century, the surname Whitelow appears in various tax rolls and manorial records. One of the earliest recorded instances is a William Whitelow, documented in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1260. The prevalence of the name in Yorkshire suggests that the Whitelow family had established themselves in the region during this period, possibly as landowners or yeomen.

The Whitelow surname also found mention in the Feet of Fines records, legal documents recording land transactions, during the 14th and 15th centuries. John Whitelow, a notable landowner, appears in such records in 1375. His involvement in local land transactions indicates that the family held a position of some influence within their community.

In the 16th century, the name continued to appear in various church and civic records. Thomas Whitelow, born in 1542, served as a churchwarden in a parish in Lancashire, demonstrating the family's continued prominence and active role in community affairs. This era saw the surname stabilizing in its modern form, Whitelow, although variations like Whytlow or Whitehlaw were still occasionally recorded.

The 17th and 18th centuries saw the Whitelow family diversifying in their professions. Edward Whitelow, born in 1634, became a notable merchant in London, amassing significant wealth and contributing to local charities. His prominence in the capital's commercial circles marked a shift from the historically agrarian roots of the family.

Another significant figure bearing the Whitelow name was Sarah Whitelow, born in 1765, an early advocate for social reform in Lancashire. Her efforts in improving local education and working conditions highlighted the Whitelow family’s growing engagement in social and civic duties beyond their historical roles.

Throughout its history, the surname Whitelow has been associated with various regions in England, predominantly Yorkshire and Lancashire. The name has conveyed geographical and occupational ties, adapting from its early descriptive origins to represent a family engaged in both local and national spheres.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whitelow

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

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

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

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