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

Whye, 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 Whye surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whye in America

Whye is the 59603rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whye surname appeared 339 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 Whye.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whye 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 Whye

The surname Whye is believed to have its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from geographical or locational identifiers, with the earliest instances appearing in areas of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The name likely evolved from the Old English word hwæ̂ge, meaning enclosure or settlement, or it could have connections to the Middle English whi, the noun form of "wharf" or "landing place."

One of the earliest recorded references to a similar surname appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, an extensive survey of England requested by William the Conqueror. In the Domesday Book, the name appears in various forms and spellings, such as Hwei and Hoie, indicative of the name’s flexibility in phonetic spelling during that era.

In the 12th century, a notable early bearer of the name was Thomas Whye, recorded in Yorkshire in 1191. His appearance in local charters underscores the name's early association with the region. Additionally, Robert Whye is mentioned in multiple legal documents in Lincolnshire around the early 13th century, implying that members of the Whye family had significant roles in local administration.

During the 16th century, Edwin Whye became a notable figure in Sussex around the 1570s. He was a landowner whose estates contributed to the importance of the Whye family in that county. His contributions to agricultural development are documented in several local records. A century later, in the 1670s, John Whye, a merchant based in London, is credited with expanding the family’s reach beyond rural areas into the burgeoning city.

In the 18th century, Doctor Samuel Whye emerged as a prominent medical practitioner in Nottinghamshire. Born in 1723 and passing in 1785, his advancements in medical treatments are well-documented in medical annals of the time. Among the clergy, Reverend Peter Whye left a lasting impact on ecclesiastical history. Born in 1756, he was known for his sermons and contributions to theological discourse until his death in 1821.

The surname Whye has seen various evolutions in spelling and usage over centuries, demonstrating its adaptation to local linguistic trends and regional influences. Throughout its history, the bearers of the name Whye have often been associated with notable contributions within their communities, spanning across different sectors including administration, agriculture, commerce, medicine, and theology.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whye

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

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

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

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