Explore the Family Name Witney
The meaning of Witney
English: habitational name from Witney in Oxfordshire, which for centuries was a center of the wool trade, famous in particular for the manufacture of blankets. The placename derives from the Old English personal name Witta (genitive Wittan) + Old English ēg, īeg ‘island’. There may have been some confusion with Whitney.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Witney in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Witney" has seen a slight decline over the decade from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Witney ranked 85,996 in terms of popularity in the U.S., while a decade later, it dropped to the rank of 96,799, which is a decrease of 12.56%. The count of individuals bearing this surname also decreased from 202 in 2000 to 188 in 2010, reflecting a drop of 6.93%. Consequently, the proportion of people named Witney per 100,000 residents slid down by 14.29% from 0.07 in 2000 to 0.06 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #85,996 | #96,799 | -12.56% |
| Count | 202 | 188 | -6.93% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.07 | 0.06 | -14.29% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Witney
When it comes to ethnic identity associated with the surname "Witney", the Decennial U.S Census data reveals some changes between 2000 and 2010. A significant majority of individuals with the Witney surname identified as White, increasing from 80.20% in 2000 to 89.89% in 2010. Furthermore, the percentage of those identifying as having two or more races went up slightly from 2.48% to 2.66%. On the other hand, the number of individuals identifying as Black drastically decreased from 14.85% in 2000 to only 4.79% in 2010. No individuals with the Witney surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, or American Indian and Alaskan Native during these years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 80.2% | 89.89% | 12.08% |
| Black | 14.85% | 4.79% | -67.74% |
| Two or More Races | 2.48% | 2.66% | 7.26% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |