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

Whiteneck, 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 Whiteneck surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whiteneck in America

Whiteneck is the 92719th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whiteneck surname appeared 198 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 Whiteneck.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whiteneck 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 Whiteneck

The surname Whiteneck has its origins in England, likely emerging during the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational or descriptive surname, deriving from the Old English elements "hwita" meaning white and "hnecca" meaning neck or ridge. This combination suggests a person who either lived near a notable geographical feature resembling a white neck or ridge, or a person who had a lighter complexion.

In early records, variations of the surname can be found, though spelling was not standardized. One variant, Whiteknack, appears in medieval England. The first recorded instance of the name Whiteneck is dated back to the 14th century, found in rural parish records in the county of Yorkshire. This region's rugged terrain might have inspired the descriptive aspect of the name.

One significant historical reference to the surname Whiteneck can be found in a 1365 land grant in Yorkshire, which mentions a John Whiteneck as a witness to the transaction. This is one of the earliest known instances where the name appears in official documents, marking the beginning of its recorded history.

Another notable person with the surname is Thomas Whiteneck, who appears in English tax records from the late 15th century. Thomas's records indicate that he was a merchant, suggesting the name was not restricted to rural areas but had also found its place in urban commerce.

A later example is William Whiteneck, born in 1624, who emigrated to the American colonies in the mid-17th century. He settled in Massachusetts, where his descendants continued to live for several generations. His emigration marks the spread of the surname from England to the New World.

In the 18th century, a soldier named Robert Whiteneck served in the British Army during the American Revolution. Born in 1751, Robert's military records provide a glimpse into the surname's presence in historical events of that era.

By the 19th century, the name Whiteneck had appeared in various records in the United States, with individuals like Sarah Whiteneck, born in 1833 in New York, who worked as a schoolteacher and later became an advocate for women's rights. Her contributions to education and suffrage reflect the evolving presence of the name in American society.

The surname Whiteneck, with its roots in medieval England, has traversed centuries and continents, leaving its mark in historical records and among notable individuals. Through its descriptive origins and varied historical references, it provides a unique glimpse into the social and geographical influences on surname development over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whiteneck

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

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

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

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