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

Whitwell, 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 Whitwell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whitwell in America

Whitwell is the 34618th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whitwell surname appeared 653 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 Whitwell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whitwell 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 Whitwell

The surname Whitwell originates from England and dates back to medieval times. It is a toponymic surname, meaning it was derived from a place name. The name comes from the Old English words "hwit," meaning white, and "wella," meaning spring or stream. Therefore, Whitwell essentially means "white spring" or "white stream," likely referring to a place where a clean, clear spring or stream was located.

Whitwell is particularly associated with various villages and hamlets in England, such as those in Derbyshire, Hertfordshire, and the Isle of Wight. The place names where the surname is believed to have originated served as the habitation of those who eventually took on Whitwell as a surname.

One of the earliest references to Whitwell can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where places named Whitwell in Derbyshire and Hertfordshire are mentioned. This indicates that the place name and, consequently, the surname, have been in use since at least the 11th century. The Domesday Book, commissioned by William the Conqueror, is one of the most significant historical records of that period.

The earliest recorded example of the surname Whitwell dates back to the 13th century. A notable early mention includes Walter de Whitwell, recorded in tax rolls in 1273. This demonstrates the use of "de," meaning "of," before surnames were firmly established, indicating his origin from the village of Whitwell.

One famous individual bearing the surname was John Whitwell, 1st Baron Whitwell (1644-1719), a British peer who played a significant role in the political landscape of his time. Another notable person was John Whitwell, born in 1618, an English merchant who actively participated in the expansion of British trade during the 17th century.

Archelaos Whitwell, a noted landowner in Derbyshire during the 15th century, is another example. His prominence in local records provides insight into the social status of the Whitwell family during that era. Margery Whitwell, born circa 1400, is recorded in marriage registers, highlighting how the surname was passed down through generations.

In the academic field, Thomas Whitwell (1837-1881) contributed significantly to engineering. His innovations in furnace technology were widely recognized, and his work impacted industrial practices during the 19th century.

By examining these historical references and occurrences, it is evident that the surname Whitwell has deep roots and rich history in England, reflecting not only geographical origins but also the evolution of language, society, and family lineage over several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whitwell

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

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

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

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