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

Whitsell, 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 Whitsell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whitsell in America

Whitsell is the 24201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whitsell surname appeared 1,038 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 Whitsell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whitsell 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 Whitsell

The surname Whitsell is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. During this time, surnames were often derived from geographical locations, professions, or descriptive traits. Whitsell likely falls into the category of a habitational name. The name is believed to have originated from locales named Whiteshill or a similar variant, which translates to "white hill."

Derived from Old English elements, the descriptive "whit" comes from "hwit," meaning white, and "hyll," meaning hill. These areas were probably distinguished by chalky or pale hills in their districts, hence the descriptive name. Over time, Whiteshill may have evolved through various phonetic alterations to become Whitsell.

Historical references to this surname can be found in older English records and geographical surveys. While it does not appear in the Domesday Book, which dates to 1086, it makes occasional appearances in subsequent rolls and institutional records. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Whitsell can be found in the late 13th century. For example, a John Whitsell is mentioned in records from 1296 in the Subsidy Rolls of Oxfordshire.

Today, Whitsell is not a common surname, but its historical journey is marked by several notable individuals. Thomas Whitsell, born around 1420, was a figure of some importance in Gloucestershire, serving as a councillor. Moving forward in time, Reverend Richard Whitsell, born in 1689 and died in 1744, was noted for his roles in the Anglican Church in Kent.

In the more recent historical context, the name can be traced to American lineage as well. Joseph Whitsell, born in 1799 and died in 1864, was among the early settlers in Kentucky, playing a significant role in the local community. Another significant individual, Caleb Whitsell, born in 1835 and died in 1912, served in the Ohio infantry during the Civil War and later held a civic role in Dayton, Ohio. Finally, Sarah Whitsell, born in 1867 and died in 1934, was an educator and advocate for women's rights in Illinois, further illustrating the versatility and endurance of the family name.

Throughout history, the surname Whitsell has undergone transformations and traveled significant geographical and social distances, securing its place as a notable but modest thread in the broader tapestry of surnames of English origin.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whitsell

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

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

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

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