2000
#141,788
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Widdop
A locational surname deriving from a place name in West Yorkshire, England.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 125 Americans carry the last name Widdop. That puts it at #150,205 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,742,035 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Widdop surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Widdop with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
125
1 in 2,742,035
Census rank
#150,205
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
109
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 109 bearers of the surname Widdop in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 150205th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Widdop, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (0.9%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Widdop
The surname Widdop originates from England, specifically from the Yorkshire region. It dates back to the medieval period and is known to have connections to the West Riding of Yorkshire. The name is derived from the Old English words "widu" meaning "wood" and "hop" meaning "valley" or "enclosed land." This suggests that the name Widdop originally referred to people who lived near or in a wooded valley.
The earliest known instances of the surname Widdop are found in medieval manuscripts and records. One of the oldest references to the name appears in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where a Johannes de Wydhope is listed. This document provides a glimpse into the existence and distribution of the name during that period. The spelling variations, such as Widdopp and Wydhope, offer insights into the phonetic evolution of the surname over time.
A significant historical figure bearing the name Widdop was John Widdop, born in the late 16th century. John was known for his efforts in agriculture in the Yorkshire region and was documented in local land deeds. His family's involvement in the community helped establish the name's presence in the area.
In the 17th century, another notable bearer of the surname was Thomas Widdop, born in 1605. Thomas served as a yeoman and was mentioned in the parish records of Leeds. His documentation in the records indicates the family's sustained prominence in Yorkshire society.
Peter Widdop, born in 1710, was a distinguished figure who contributed to the cultural heritage of Yorkshire. As a member of the local guild, Peter worked as a skilled craftsman and was frequently mentioned in various guild records of the mid-18th century. His craftsmanship was highly regarded, enhancing the prestige of the Widdop name in regional history.
In the 19th century, Robert Widdop emerged as a notable individual within the academic circles of Yorkshire. Born in 1822, Robert was an esteemed scholar who published several works on local history and folklore. His scholarly endeavors provided valuable insights into the cultural and historical aspects of the region, cementing the Widdop name's association with intellectual pursuits.
Eliza Widdop, born in 1860, made her mark as a prominent figure in the suffragette movement in England. She actively participated in advocating for women's rights and became a symbol of perseverance and determination. Eliza's involvement in social issues highlighted the evolving role of individuals with the Widdop surname in broader societal changes.
The surname Widdop reflects a rich history rooted in the Yorkshire region of England. Its origins are connected to the geographical landscape, specifically referencing wooded valleys. Historical records and notable individuals bearing the name illustrate the evolution and significance of the Widdop surname through the centuries, showcasing its impact on various aspects of society, from agriculture and craftsmanship to scholarship and social activism.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Widdop
Among Census respondents with the surname Widdop, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (0.9%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Widdop bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Widdop surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White98.2% · 107
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Widdop
Widdop appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#149,395
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
+2 bearers (+1.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 7,607 places
2020
#150,205
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
-1 bearers (-0.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 810 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #141,788 | 108 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #149,395 | 110 | 0.04 | +2 bearers (+1.9%) | Down 7,607 places |
| 2020 | #150,205 | 109 | 0.04 | -1 bearers (-0.9%) | Down 810 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Widdop surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #149,395 | #150,205 | -0.5% |
| Count | 110 | 109 | -0.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -8.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Widdop bearers went from 110 to 109 (-0.9% change). The surname moved down 810 positions in the national ranking, going from #149,395 to #150,205.
FAQ
Widdop surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Widdop?
Name Census estimates that about 125 living Americans carry the surname Widdop. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,742,035 residents.
How common is Widdop?
Widdop ranks #150,205 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 109 people with the surname Widdop. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (125), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Widdop.
Has Widdop become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Widdop went from 110 recorded bearers to 109. That is a decrease of 1 (-0.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #149,395 to #150,205.
What does the Census say about the background of Widdop?
Among Census respondents with the surname Widdop, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (0.9%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Widdop in the 2020 Census, accounting for 98.2% (107 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Widdop appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (98.2%), Hispanic (0.9%), American Indian/Alaska Native (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Widdop (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Widdop mean?
A locational surname deriving from a place name in West Yorkshire, England. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Widdop (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Widdop?
If you just want to know how many people have the surname Widdop, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.