Explore the Family Name Whelton
The meaning of Whelton
1. Irish (Cork): because of the earlier Anglicized form Houlton, MacLysaght suggests this may be a variant of Houlihan. 2. English: possibly a variant of Whelpton, a habitational name perhaps from West Whelpington or Kirkwhelpington (Northumberland), with loss of the -ing-. The placename derives from an Old English personal name Hwelp + Old English connective -ing- + tūn ‘farmstead, estate’. There is scope for confusion with Wheeldon. Some characteristic forenames: Irish Brendan, Paddy.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Whelton in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname 'Whelton' has seen a slight decline in the first decade of the 21st century. In the year 2000, Whelton ranked at 44,103 among all surnames, with a frequency count of 460 per 100,000. However, by 2010, the rank had slipped to 53,316 and the count dropped to 388, marking a decrease of about 15.65%. The proportion of people with this surname per 100,000 also slipped from 0.17 to 0.13, a fall of 23.53%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #44,103 | #53,316 | -20.89% |
| Count | 460 | 388 | -15.65% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.17 | 0.13 | -23.53% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Whelton
When it comes to ethnicity associated with the surname 'Whelton', data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows some interesting shifts between 2000 and 2010. Overwhelmingly, the surname is associated with individuals identifying as White, although this proportion decreased slightly from 96.52% in 2000 to 90.98% in 2010. There was a notable increase in the representation of Hispanic individuals bearing the Whelton surname, rising from just 2.39% in 2000 to 4.64% in 2010, indicating a growth of 94.14%. Interestingly, the 2010 census also showed that nearly 3.87% of people with the Whelton surname identified with two or more races, a category which wasn't represented in the 2000 data. The categories Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native remained at zero for both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.52% | 90.98% | -5.74% |
| Hispanic | 2.39% | 4.64% | 94.14% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 3.87% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |