2000
#85,996
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 202
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.07
Very Rare Last name
Witney
A habitational surname derived from the town of Witney in Oxfordshire, England.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 153 Americans carry the last name Witney. That puts it at #132,523 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,240,224 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Witney 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 Witney with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
153
1 in 2,240,224
Census rank
#132,523
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
133
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 133 bearers of the surname Witney in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 132523rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Witney, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.2%. The next largest groups are Black (4.5%) and Two or More Races (4.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Witney
The surname Witney has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. The name is toponymic, meaning it is derived from a place name, specifically the town of Witney in Oxfordshire. The name of the town itself comes from Old English roots, combining "wic," meaning a settlement or dwelling, and "ney," meaning an island or land between rivers, possibly referring to the area of Witney situated between the River Windrush and its tributaries.
Historically, the name Witney is mentioned in various ancient records. A significant reference is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where the town of Witney is listed as "Witenie." This earliest record illustrates the town's importance and the name's antiquity. By the 12th century, the town of Witney became well known for its flourishing wool trade, which likely contributed to the spread and adoption of the surname by individuals associated with the area.
One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the surname Witney is Robert de Witney, documented in the early 13th century. This suggests the surname had already become established as a family name by this time. Another early reference to the surname is found in the 1273 Hundred Rolls, where a John de Witney is listed, signifying the continued presence and usage of the name.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the surname Witney. One example is Richard Witney, born in 1580, who made significant contributions to the wool industry in Oxfordshire. His involvement helped to sustain the town's economy during a critical period in its history. In the 17th century, Anne Witney, born in 1635, became known for her philanthropic work in her community, establishing schools and almshouses in Witney.
In more recent centuries, the Witney surname is associated with figures like Charles Witney, an 18th-century clergyman known for his theological writings. Charles was born in 1745 and served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Witney. Additionally, Sarah Witney, an artist born in 1801, gained recognition for her contributions to landscape painting and her depictions of the Oxfordshire countryside.
The Witney surname's rich history is deeply rooted in its geographic origins and the notable individuals who have carried it over centuries. Each generation has contributed to maintaining and enhancing the legacy of the Witney name, linking it indelibly to the Oxfordshire town from which it sprung.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Witney
Among Census respondents with the surname Witney, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.2%. The next largest groups are Black (4.5%) and Two or More Races (4.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Witney 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 Witney surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White87.2% · 116
- Black or African American4.5% · 6
- Two or more races4.5% · 6
- Hispanic or Latino3.8% · 5
Timeline
Historical Census data for Witney
Witney 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
#96,799
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 188
-14 bearers (-6.9%)
Per 100,000 0.06
Rank movement Down 10,803 places
2020
#132,523
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 133
-55 bearers (-29.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 35,724 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #85,996 | 202 | 0.07 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #96,799 | 188 | 0.06 | -14 bearers (-6.9%) | Down 10,803 places |
| 2020 | #132,523 | 133 | 0.04 | -55 bearers (-29.3%) | Down 35,724 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 Witney 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 | #96,799 | #132,523 | -36.9% |
| Count | 188 | 133 | -29.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.04 | -25.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Witney bearers went from 188 to 133 (-29.3% change). The surname moved down 35,724 positions in the national ranking, going from #96,799 to #132,523.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Witney
FAQ
Witney surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Witney?
Name Census estimates that about 153 living Americans carry the surname Witney. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,240,224 residents.
How common is Witney?
Witney ranks #132,523 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 133 people with the surname Witney. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (153), 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 Witney.
Has Witney become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Witney went from 188 recorded bearers to 133. That is a decrease of 55 (-29.3%). In the national ranking it fell from #96,799 to #132,523.
What does the Census say about the background of Witney?
Among Census respondents with the surname Witney, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.2%. The next largest groups are Black (4.5%) and Two or More Races (4.5%). 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 Witney in the 2020 Census, accounting for 87.2% (116 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Witney appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (87.2%), Black (4.5%), Two or More Races (4.5%). 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 Witney (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 Witney mean?
A habitational surname derived from the town of Witney in Oxfordshire, 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 Witney (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 Americans have the surname Witney?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.