Explore the Family Name Whittingham
The meaning of Whittingham
English: habitational name from any of the places called Whittingham (in Lancashire and Northumberland), Little Whittingham, now Little Whittingham Green (Suffolk), or less likely Whittinghame (East Lothian). The placenames probably mean ‘the homestead of the people of a man called Hwīta or Witta’, from the Old English personal name Hwīta (or Witta in the Suffolk name) + the Old English group name suffix -ingas (genitive -inga-) + hām ‘village, homestead’. The name may also derive from Wittenham (Berkshire), which is named from the Old English personal name Witta (genitive Wittan) + Old English hamm ‘water meadow’. This surname is also found in Wales. History: Richand Whittingham and his son, also called Richard, brass founders from Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, came to New York City in 1791, where they established a successful business.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Whittingham in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Whittingham has seen an increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname ranked 23,848, while by 2010, it had moved up to rank 23,167, showing a positive change of 2.86%. The number of people with the Whittingham surname also increased from 989 in 2000 to 1,101 in 2010, marking an 11.32% rise. However, the proportion per 100,000 people remained stable at 0.37.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #23,848 | #23,167 | 2.86% |
| Count | 989 | 1,101 | 11.32% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.37 | 0.37 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Whittingham
When it comes to the ethnicity of people with the Whittingham surname, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some interesting shifts. From 2000 to 2010, there was a significant increase in those identifying as Hispanic (from 2.12% to 4.00%, a jump of 88.68%) and those identifying with two or more ethnicities (rising from 1.92% to 3.00%, a 56.25% increase). The Black community also saw growth, with an increase from 39.33% to 43.42%. On the other hand, the White community decreased from 55.92% to 48.50%. There were no individuals who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either of the years surveyed.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 55.92% | 48.5% | -13.27% |
| Black | 39.33% | 43.42% | 10.4% |
| Hispanic | 2.12% | 4% | 88.68% |
| Two or More Races | 1.92% | 3% | 56.25% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |