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

Whitely, 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 Whitely surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whitely in America

Whitely is the 18540th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whitely surname appeared 1,488 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 Whitely.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whitely 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 Whitely

The surname Whitely has its origins in England, particularly in the Anglo-Saxon period, before the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name is believed to be locational, meaning it originated as a descriptor for someone from a place called Whitely or Whiteley. Several settlements in England bear similar names, such as Whiteley in Hampshire and West Yorkshire, which can be linked to the surname's origin. These names are derived from the Old English elements "hwita," meaning white, and "leah," meaning clearing or meadow.

Whitely first appears in historical records during the medieval period. One of the earliest references can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which records numerous instances of place names with "leah" suffixes, although specific mentions of Whitely are scarce. Instead, the roots of the surname can be inferred from these locational names and the common linguistic practices of the time.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Whitely is that of Simon de Whitening, noted in the Hundred Rolls of 1273. The Hundred Rolls were a census initiated by King Edward I, intended to record the land ownership and resources of the kingdom. Simon de Whitening’s surname points to his origin from a place called Whitening, a phonetic variation of Whitely.

The surname appears again in the records of the 14th century. In 1332, a John de Whitely is listed in the Subsidy Rolls of York, paying taxes related to his property and assets. This document provides a glimpse into the economic activities and social standing of individuals bearing the surname during that period.

By the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Whitely had spread to various parts of England. William Whitely, born in 1580 and died in 1622, is a notable figure from this time, listed in parish records from London. He was a tradesman who owned several properties in the city, highlighting the mobility and socioeconomic rise of individuals bearing the surname.

Moving forward in history, Thomas Whitely, born in 1722 and died in 1781, was a recognized artisan in Bath, Somerset. His work as a cabinet maker was documented in local guild records, showcasing the artisan craft skills often associated with bearers of this surname during the 18th century.

Lastly, in the 19th century, Samuel Whitely, born in 1815 and died in 1876, was an influential figure in the industrial towns of Manchester. His role as a cotton mill owner during the Industrial Revolution highlights the evolution of the surname Whitely within the socio-economic fabric of England as it transitioned from agrarian to industrial society. Samuel’s contributions to Manchester’s textile industry were noted in several industrial histories and local records.

Throughout its history, the surname Whitely has been tied to the English landscape, evolving from its Anglo-Saxon roots in rural clearings and meadows to becoming an identifier for individuals involved in various significant historical periods and industries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whitely

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

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

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

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