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

Whitesides, 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 Whitesides surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whitesides in America

Whitesides is the 15551st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whitesides surname appeared 1,881 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 Whitesides.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whitesides 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 Whitesides

The surname Whitesides traces its origins back to England, particularly in the northern regions, with the earliest records dating back to the medieval period. The name is primarily found in Lancashire, a county known for its rural landscapes and industrial heritage. Whitesides is believed to be a locational surname, often derived from geographical features or the name of a place where the original bearers resided.

The etymology of Whitesides comes from the Old English words "hwita" meaning white and "sid" meaning side or slope, referring to a hillside or a slope that was white, possibly due to chalk deposits or snow-covered landscapes. It is interesting to note that names related to geographical features were quite common in the medieval period, as they provided a straightforward way to identify individuals based on their living surroundings.

Historical references to the surname can be found in various documents and records. One notable mention appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332, where a John de Whiteside is listed. This suggests that the name was in use and recognized as a distinct family name by the early 14th century. The use of "de" before the surname implies that it was likely originally associated with a specific location known as Whiteside or White Hill.

Early recorded examples of the name also include Robert de Whiteside, who appears in records from the same region in the 15th century. The spelling of surnames during this period was often inconsistent, with variations such as Whitside, Whitesides, and Whytside all being documented.

One notable individual carrying the Whitesides surname was James Whitesides, born in 1772 in England and later emigrated to the United States, where he became a prominent figure in Ohio's early political landscape. Another historical figure is Charles Whitesides, a 17th-century merchant known for his trading ventures between England and the West Indies.

Further back in England, Alexander Whitesides, who lived in the late 16th century, was recorded as a landowner in Lancashire. This suggests that the family had established themselves and gained some level of prosperity by this time. Moving into the 19th century, Thomas Whitesides, born in 1810, became known for his contributions to agricultural reforms in northern England, enhancing the productivity of local farms.

Lastly, Margaret Whitesides, born in 1864, was a notable educator and social reformer in Manchester, contributing significantly to the improvement of educational opportunities for women and children during the late Victorian era.

Overall, the surname Whitesides is deeply rooted in the geographical and social history of northern England, with records and notable individuals spanning several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whitesides

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

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

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

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