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

Whitmer, 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 Whitmer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whitmer in America

Whitmer is the 6398th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whitmer surname appeared 5,317 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Whitmer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whitmer 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 Whitmer

The surname Whitmer is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "hwit," meaning white, and "mere," referring to a boundary or lake. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to describe someone who lived near a white or light-colored body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Witemere." This entry refers to a location in Warwickshire, indicating that the name was already in use as a place name during the 11th century.

Over time, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as "Whytmere," "Whitmere," and "Whitmer" appearing in various historical records. These changes likely reflect regional dialects and linguistic shifts that occurred across different parts of England.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named William Whitmer was recorded as a landowner in the county of Oxfordshire. This suggests that by this point, the name had become established as a surname among certain families.

During the 16th century, a prominent individual named John Whitmer (1520-1589) served as a member of the English Parliament, representing the borough of Calne in Wiltshire. His involvement in politics indicates that the Whitmer family had achieved a certain level of status and influence by this time.

Another significant figure bearing the Whitmer surname was Richard Whitmer (1645-1718), who was a renowned clockmaker in London during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. His work contributed to the advancement of timekeeping technology and the development of precision instruments.

In the 19th century, a man named Charles Whitmer (1805-1878) gained recognition as a prolific writer and journalist, publishing works on various subjects, including history, politics, and social commentary.

Throughout its history, the surname Whitmer has been associated with various locations across England, including Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, and London, among others. While the name has evolved over time, its origins can be traced back to the Old English language and the early medieval period.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whitmer

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

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

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

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