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

Whitter, 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 Whitter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whitter in America

Whitter is the 41038th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whitter surname appeared 531 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 Whitter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whitter 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 Whitter

The surname Whitter has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is primarily found in the regions of Yorkshire and Lancashire. The name is likely derived from the Old English word hwita, meaning "white." This could have been a nickname for someone with very fair hair or a pale complexion. An alternative origin might be the Old English word hwit-ing, which indicates a clearing in the forest, suggesting a geographical connection.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Whitter can be traced back to the 13th century. In the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, a Simon le Whytter is mentioned, highlighting the surname’s use during that era. The name also appears in the Feet of Fines from 1352, where a person named Thomas Whytter is recorded in Lancashire.

Throughout the 14th and 15th centuries, the surname continued to develop with slight variations in spelling. In 1421, a Thomas Whytter is listed in the Poll Tax Records of Yorkshire. The surname’s variations, whether Whytter or Whytter, were relatively common during these centuries, with regional dialects affecting its spelling.

By the 16th century, the Whitter surname had established a stronger presence. In 1545, one John Whitter of Lancashire is documented in the Wills and Inventories of the Northern Counties of England. Another notable individual is Anne Whitter, born in 1561, who was a prominent figure in her local parish community in Yorkshire.

Moving into the 17th century, the surname Whitter appears in historical documents more frequently, suggesting a wider distribution. For example, William Whitter, born in 1615, became known for his involvement in regional politics in Yorkshire, emphasizing the family’s increasing prominence. Another remarkable figure is Richard Whitter, born in 1692, a merchant in Liverpool, indicating the name's spread to urban areas.

The surname’s historical references continue into the 18th century, where it maintains its presence in official records. In 1723, Mary Whitter, a notable benefactor, left a significant bequest to her local church in Lancashire. Additionally, the famous poet John Greenleaf Whitter, born in 1807, though primarily known for his middle name, carried forward the legacy of the Whitter surname into the realms of literature and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whitter

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!