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

Whitham, 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 Whitham surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whitham in America

Whitham is the 19642nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whitham surname appeared 1,373 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 Whitham.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whitham 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 Whitham

The surname Whitham traces its origins to England, with its earliest roots found in the medieval period. The name is of toponymic origin, deriving from locations in England named Witham, which can be found in several counties such as Essex, Lincolnshire, and Somerset. The name Witham itself is thought to be derived from Old English elements, specifically "widu," meaning "wood," and "ham," meaning "home" or "homestead." Thus, the name Whitham essentially means "home by the wood."

Historical references to the surname Whitham can be found in early English records. In the Domesday Book of 1086, an extensive survey ordered by William the Conqueror, there are mentions of the locations named Witham. This suggests that the people living in or around those areas would often take the name of the place as their surname, a common practice in medieval England.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Whitham is that of Robert de Witham, who appears in the Pipe Rolls of 1166 in Lincolnshire. This indicates that the name was already in use by the 12th century and associated with landholding families in the region. Another early instance includes John Whitham, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1297.

Sir Thomas Whitham, born around 1500, was a notable figure bearing this surname. He served as a knight and landowner during the reign of Henry VIII. His contributions to local governance and his landholdings have been well-documented in historical archives. Another significant individual was Henry Whitham, born in 1587, who served as a member of Parliament for Lancashire in the early 17th century.

Reverend John Whitham, born in 1726, was a prominent clergyman who contributed to religious life in Yorkshire. His sermons and religious texts were widely read and respected during his time. Mary Whitham, born in 1764, was known for her philanthropic work in Lancashire, contributing to educational and charitable causes in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

In summary, the Whitham surname has a rich history tied to English locations named Witham. It has appeared in various historical records and manuscripts dating from the 12th century. Notable individuals bearing the Whitham name have made significant contributions in fields such as governance, religion, and philanthropy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whitham

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

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

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

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