Explore the Family Name Whitelaw
The meaning of Whitelaw
Scottish (Lanarkshire and Midlothian): habitational name from either or both places called Whitelaw in Morebattle and Bowden (Roxburghshire), named with Old English hwīt ‘white’ + hlāw ‘mound, hill’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Whitelaw in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Whitelaw" has seen a slight decrease in rank from 2000 to 2010, moving from 21,124th place to 21,568th. However, its count did increase by 4.49% over this time period, rising from 1,158 to 1,210. The proportion per 100,000 people saw a small reduction of about 4.65%, going from 0.43 to 0.41.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #21,124 | #21,568 | -2.1% |
| Count | 1,158 | 1,210 | 4.49% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.43 | 0.41 | -4.65% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Whitelaw
In terms of ethnicity, using the same Decennial U.S. Census data, there were notable changes from 2000 to 2010. While the majority of individuals with the Whitelaw surname identified as White, this proportion decreased from 78.93% in 2000 to 76.69% in 2010. In contrast, those identifying as Black or Hispanic showed an increase, with the former rising from 16.67% to 17.85% and the latter from 1.12% to 1.90%. Individuals identifying with two or more races also increased, moving from 1.99% to 2.73%. There was no change for those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 78.93% | 76.69% | -2.84% |
| Black | 16.67% | 17.85% | 7.08% |
| Two or More Races | 1.99% | 2.73% | 37.19% |
| Hispanic | 1.12% | 1.9% | 69.64% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |