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

Whitty, 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 Whitty surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whitty in America

Whitty is the 19019th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whitty surname appeared 1,432 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 Whitty.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whitty 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 Whitty

The surname Whitty is of English origin, dating back to the medieval period. It is primarily found in regions such as Lancashire and Devon in England. The name is derived from the Old English elements "hwit," meaning "white," and the suffix "-ey" or "-y," which could denote an island or a piece of land. Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived by a "white island" or a clear, notable piece of land.

Historical records indicate that the surname Whitty has been in use for several centuries. One of the earliest mentions of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a landowner named Witega is listed, showcasing the early presence of names with similar phonetic qualities. The surname evolved over time from such Old English roots, with variations like Whittey appearing in documents from the 12th and 13th centuries.

A notable historical reference includes John Whitty, an early recorded individual who appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Devon in 1327. This document is among the oldest tax records in England, offering a glimpse into the common use of the name during that era.

Thomas Whitty, born in 1713 and deceased in 1792, is another significant figure linked to this surname. He is renowned for founding the Axminster Carpet Factory in Devon in 1755, which gained fame for its high-quality carpets that became highly sought after by the English aristocracy and even the royal family.

In ecclesiastical history, there was a priest named Richard Whitty who served in Ireland in the late 16th century. Records from the Annals of the Four Masters indicate his involvement in the Catholic Church during a time of religious turbulence, showcasing the geographical spread of the surname beyond England and into Ireland.

Peter Whitty, an influential figure in maritime trade during the 18th century, was known for his work with the East India Company. He facilitated crucial trade routes between England and Asia, demonstrating the prominent roles undertaken by bearers of this surname.

In the realm of literature, Edward Whitty, born in 1827 and deceased in 1860, made his mark as a journalist and novelist. His work "The Governing Classes of Great Britain," published in 1854, offered a scathing critique of the political elite, reflecting the intellectual legacy borne by individuals with this surname.

The surname Whitty, rooted in medieval England, has been carried by notable individuals across various domains, from commerce and the church to literature, thereby illustrating its rich and multifaceted history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whitty

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

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

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

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