2000
#3,026
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 10,981
First available Census row
Per 100,000 4.07
Uncommon Last name
Whiteside
A locational surname referring to someone who lived by the white side of a hill or embankment.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 12,416 Americans carry the last name Whiteside. That puts it at #3,255 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 3.62 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 27,606 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Whiteside 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 Whiteside with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
12K
1 in 27,606
Census rank
#3,255
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
3.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
11K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 10,827 bearers of the surname Whiteside in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 3.62 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3255th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Whiteside, the largest self-reported group is White at 61.3%. The next largest groups are Black (29.2%) and Two or More Races (5.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Whiteside
The surname Whiteside has its origins in the northern regions of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It emerged during the medieval period, likely in the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "hwit," meaning white, and "side," referring to a hillside or slope. This suggests that the name initially described someone who lived near a prominent white hillside or slope, distinguishing them from their neighbors.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a certain William Whytesyde is mentioned. This historical document provides valuable insight into the early use and spelling variations of the name.
In the 15th century, the Whiteside surname can be found in various Lancashire records, including the Lancashire Wills of 1548, which mentions a John Whiteside. The name's presence in these records indicates its widespread use and establishment in the region during that time period.
A notable bearer of the Whiteside name was Robert Whiteside, born in 1617 in Yorkshire. He was a prominent merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the local community. Another notable figure was William Whiteside, born in 1738 in Lancashire, who served as a respected magistrate and was known for his commitment to justice and fairness.
The Whiteside surname also made its way across the Atlantic Ocean to the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances in America was John Whiteside, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1635 from England. He went on to establish a successful farm and became a respected member of the local community.
In the 18th century, the Whiteside name gained prominence in Ireland, where it was particularly prevalent in County Antrim. A notable figure from this period was James Whiteside, born in 1804 in County Antrim. He was a prominent lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland from 1866 to 1876.
Another noteworthy individual was Robert Whiteside, born in 1830 in County Antrim. He was a renowned scientist and inventor who made significant contributions to the field of electricity and telecommunications. His work paved the way for the development of modern communication systems.
Throughout its history, the Whiteside surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, including farming, trade, law, politics, and science. Its origins and journey across different regions reflect the rich tapestry of history and cultural exchange that has shaped many surnames over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Whiteside
Among Census respondents with the surname Whiteside, the largest self-reported group is White at 61.3%. The next largest groups are Black (29.2%) and Two or More Races (5.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Whiteside 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 Whiteside surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White61.3% · 6,636
- Black or African American29.2% · 3,158
- Two or more races5.1% · 547
- Hispanic or Latino3.4% · 363
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7% · 81
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 42
Timeline
Historical Census data for Whiteside
Whiteside 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
#3,191
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 11,334
+353 bearers (+3.2%)
Per 100,000 3.84
Rank movement Down 165 places
2020
#3,255
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 10,827
-507 bearers (-4.5%)
Per 100,000 3.62
Rank movement Down 64 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #3,026 | 10,981 | 4.07 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #3,191 | 11,334 | 3.84 | +353 bearers (+3.2%) | Down 165 places |
| 2020 | #3,255 | 10,827 | 3.62 | -507 bearers (-4.5%) | Down 64 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 Whiteside 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 | #3,191 | #3,255 | -2.0% |
| Count | 11,334 | 10,827 | -4.5% |
| Per 100K | 3.84 | 3.62 | -5.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Whiteside bearers went from 11,334 to 10,827 (-4.5% change). The surname moved down 64 positions in the national ranking, going from #3,191 to #3,255.
FAQ
Whiteside surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Whiteside?
Name Census estimates that about 12,416 living Americans carry the surname Whiteside. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 27,606 residents.
How common is Whiteside?
Whiteside ranks #3,255 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Uncommon." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 3.62 per 100,000 residents, which is about 4 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 10,827 people with the surname Whiteside. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (12,416), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 3.62 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 3.62 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 4 of them to have the surname Whiteside.
Has Whiteside become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Whiteside went from 11,334 recorded bearers to 10,827. That is a decrease of 507 (-4.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #3,191 to #3,255.
What does the Census say about the background of Whiteside?
Among Census respondents with the surname Whiteside, the largest self-reported group is White at 61.3%. The next largest groups are Black (29.2%) and Two or More Races (5.1%). 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 Whiteside in the 2020 Census, accounting for 61.3% (6,636 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Whiteside appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (61.3%), Black (29.2%), Two or More Races (5.1%). 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 Whiteside (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 Whiteside mean?
A locational surname referring to someone who lived by the white side of a hill or embankment. 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 Whiteside (3.62 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 share the surname Whiteside?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.