Whyde last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Whyde

A surname derived from a derivative of the name Guy or Wido.

Whyde, 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 Whyde surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whyde in America

Whyde is the 61899th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whyde surname appeared 324 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 Whyde.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whyde 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.

20102000Change (%)
Rank61899563929.31%
Count324339-4.52%
Proportion per 100k0.110.13-16.67%

The history of the last name Whyde

The surname Whyde is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest appearances traced back to the late medieval period. It is most commonly associated with the counties in the southern part of the country, particularly Devon and Somerset. The surname likely derives from an old English place name or descriptive term, potentially connected to the Old English word "hwit" meaning "white," or "wide" indicating spaciousness or breadth. Variations in spelling over time have included Whit, Whyt, and Whyde, reflecting the phonetic spelling conventions of the period.

Historical references to the surname can be found in various medieval records. One of the earliest known instances is a mention in the Subsidy Rolls of 1332 in Devon, where a Richard le Whyde is listed as a taxpayer. This indicates the name's existence and use among the English populace during the 14th century. Other records from legal documents, such as land grants and court rolls, also sporadically mention individuals with the surname, providing insights into its geographic distribution.

A notable early example of someone bearing the surname is John Whyde, born circa 1400, who is recorded as a landholder in Somerset. Another significant figure is Thomas Whyde, born in 1450, who appears in the records of the city of Exeter in Devon as a merchant and local official. These instances suggest a degree of social mobility and local prominence associated with the surname during the late Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, Catherine Whyde is documented in parish records as being born in 1512 in Devon. She later married into a local gentry family, further cementing the name's association with the region. Another figure from this time is Edward Whyde, born in 1538, who served as a vicar in a small parish in Somerset, indicating the surname's presence among the clergy.

The 17th century saw continued use of the name, with Elizabeth Whyde, born in 1602 in Exeter, being a particularly notable example as she became known for her charitable works within the community. A final notable historical figure is William Whyde, born in 1620, who emigrated to the American colonies, settling in Massachusetts by the mid-17th century. This marked the beginning of the surname's presence in the New World.

The surname Whyde, although not common, has a rich history that spans several centuries and geographical locations. Its evolution and endurance highlight the cultural and social movements of the periods in which it was used. Through historical records and notable individuals, the name Whyde offers a glimpse into the lives and times of those who bore it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whyde

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

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 Whyde was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only94.75%307
Non-Hispanic Black Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races2.47%8
Hispanic Origin(S)%(S)

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 Whyde has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

20102000Change (%)
White94.75%95.28%-0.56%
Black(S)%(S)%(S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander(S)%(S)%(S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native(S)%1.47%(S)%
Two or More Races2.47%2.06%18.10%
Hispanic(S)%(S)%(S)%

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

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

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