Explore the Family Name Whitby
The meaning of Whitby
English: habitational name from Whitby, a port in North Yorkshire, or from Whitby in Cheshire. The North Yorkshire placename probably derives from the Old Norse personal name Hvíti or Old Norse hvítr ‘white’ + bý ‘farmstead, village’. The Cheshire placename derives from Old English hwīt ‘white’ + burg ‘fortress’, later replaced by Old Norse bý.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Whitby in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Whitby has seen a minor change in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Whitby ranked as the 12,017th most popular surname, but by 2010 it had slipped slightly to become the 12,279th most common name, reflecting a 2.18% decrease. However, the actual count of individuals with the Whitby surname has increased from 2,385 in 2000 to 2,532 in 2010, showing a growth of 6.16%. The proportion of individuals named Whitby per 100,000 people also experienced a slight decline from 0.88 to 0.86 during this time period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,017 | #12,279 | -2.18% |
| Count | 2,385 | 2,532 | 6.16% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.88 | 0.86 | -2.27% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Whitby
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some shifts in the ethnic identity distribution associated with the surname Whitby from 2000 to 2010. While the proportion of Whites decreased by 5%, from 73.96% to 70.26%, the percentage of Blacks increased by 9.2% to reach 23.85%. Similarly, the Hispanic representation within the Whitby family also grew by 58.38% to comprise 3.12% of the total, whereas those identifying with two or more races saw a rise of 25.57% to account for 2.21%. There remained no individuals with Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native identities under the Whitby surname during these years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 73.96% | 70.26% | -5% |
| Black | 21.84% | 23.85% | 9.2% |
| Hispanic | 1.97% | 3.12% | 58.38% |
| Two or More Races | 1.76% | 2.21% | 25.57% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |