UK surname
Derived from a place name meaning "wide valley" in Old English, likely referring to a person's residence.
In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Whiddon surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 74, ranked #33,441, down from #18,026 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Pancras, Ashburton and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whiddon is 136 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 36.8%.
1881 census count
117
Ranked #18,026
Modern count
74
2016, ranked #33,441
Peak year
1901
136 bearers
Map years
5
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Whiddon surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Whiddon surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 87 | #18,695 |
| 1861 | historical | 100 | #21,103 |
| 1881 | historical | 117 | #18,026 |
| 1891 | historical | 115 | #21,878 |
| 1901 | historical | 136 | #19,110 |
| 1911 | historical | 135 | #19,058 |
| 1997 | modern | 85 | #28,988 |
| 1998 | modern | 87 | #29,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 87 | #29,398 |
| 2000 | modern | 84 | #29,706 |
| 2001 | modern | 84 | #29,508 |
| 2002 | modern | 83 | #30,070 |
| 2003 | modern | 82 | #30,206 |
| 2004 | modern | 88 | #29,758 |
| 2005 | modern | 88 | #29,831 |
| 2006 | modern | 87 | #30,292 |
| 2007 | modern | 90 | #30,228 |
| 2008 | modern | 88 | #30,857 |
| 2009 | modern | 87 | #31,489 |
| 2010 | modern | 90 | #31,621 |
| 2011 | modern | 87 | #31,905 |
| 2012 | modern | 85 | #32,395 |
| 2013 | modern | 83 | #32,813 |
| 2014 | modern | 81 | #33,061 |
| 2015 | modern | 76 | #33,351 |
| 2016 | modern | 74 | #33,441 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Pancras, Ashburton, St Mary Islington, Littleham (including pt Exmouth) and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 2 | Ashburton | Devon |
| 3 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Littleham (including pt Exmouth) | Devon |
| 5 | London parishes | London 2 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Whiddon surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Whiddon, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Whiddon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Whiddon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Whiddon is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Whiddon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Whiddon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Whiddon originated in the county of Devon, England, and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "hwit" meaning white and "dun" meaning hill or down. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a whitish-colored hill or down.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Whiddon can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Devon from 1212, where a Walter de Whiddon is mentioned. The Pipe Rolls were records of financial transactions kept by the English Crown. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were surveys of landholdings and tenants.
In the 14th century, the Whiddon family was well-established in the parish of Chagford, Devon. They held lands and properties in the area for several generations. One notable member of the family was John Whiddon (c. 1350-1418), who served as a member of the Devon County Parliament during the reign of King Richard II.
The Whiddon surname has various spellings throughout history, including Whiddon, Whiddon, Whiddon, and Whiddon. Some of these variations may have been influenced by local dialects or scribal errors in record-keeping.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Whiddon family continued to hold prominence in Devon. Sir John Whiddon (1548-1619) was a successful merchant and served as the Mayor of Plymouth in 1594. His son, Sir John Whiddon (1588-1642), was a renowned military commander who fought for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.
Another notable figure with the Whiddon surname was Samuel Whiddon (1637-1720), an Anglican clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Totnes and the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Taunton. He was known for his religious writings and sermons.
In the 18th century, the Whiddon family had spread to other parts of England, as well as to Ireland and Wales. Some members of the family emigrated to the American colonies, where they established roots and contributed to the development of various communities.
While the Whiddon surname is not as common today as it once was, it remains a part of the rich tapestry of English and British history, with its origins deeply rooted in the county of Devon and the language of the Anglo-Saxons.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whiddon surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 82 Whiddons recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.82x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 82 | 34.82x |
| Middlesex | 19 | 1.68x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 2.38x |
| Surrey | 4 | 0.73x |
| Kent | 3 | 0.78x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.45x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.43x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 7.42x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.55x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashburton in Devon leads with 22 Whiddons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1946.90x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ashburton | 22 | 1946.90x |
| St Pancras London | 10 | 10.98x |
| Withycombe Rawleigh | 9 | 731.71x |
| Marldon | 7 | 3500.00x |
| East Ogwell | 6 | 6000.00x |
| Brixham | 4 | 146.52x |
| Broad Clist | 4 | 493.83x |
| Byker | 4 | 48.08x |
| Croydon | 4 | 13.07x |
| Harford | 4 | 5714.29x |
| Hackney London | 3 | 4.73x |
| Highweek | 3 | 357.14x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 3 | 46.88x |
| Newton Abbot St Mary | 3 | 151.52x |
| Plymouth Charles The | 3 | 28.90x |
| Thurlestone | 3 | 2142.86x |
| Broadhempston | 2 | 909.09x |
| Colaton Raleigh | 2 | 689.66x |
| Islington London | 2 | 1.82x |
| Malborough | 2 | 212.77x |
| Shoreditch London | 2 | 4.08x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 2.03x |
| Brading | 1 | 32.47x |
| Churston Ferrers | 1 | 400.00x |
| Exeter St David | 1 | 49.75x |
| Ilfracombe | 1 | 41.32x |
| Kingston | 1 | 555.56x |
| Limehouse London | 1 | 8.05x |
| Littleham | 1 | 58.14x |
| Lympston | 1 | 238.10x |
| Newton Abbot St Nicholas | 1 | 208.33x |
| Poltimore | 1 | 909.09x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 8.67x |
| Spaxton | 1 | 285.71x |
| Woodford | 1 | 39.53x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Whiddon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Whiddon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Whiddon households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 26 |
| Painter | 3 |
| Ag Labourer | 2 |
| Charwoman | 2 |
| Cook Domestic Serv | 2 |
| Farm Labourer | 2 |
| Furniture Broker | 2 |
| Housekeeper | 2 |
| Inn Keeper | 2 |
| Asst Paymaster | 1 |
| Bill Poster | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Cab Driver | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Coal Merchant | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cook Domestic | 1 |
| Domestic | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Servant (General) | 1 |
| Fish Dealer | 1 |
| Fisherman | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Gardener (Domestic) | 1 |
| Gardeners Wife | 1 |
| Gardner (M) | 1 |
| Gen Serv | 1 |
| General Lab | 1 |
| General Lab Wife | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Household Duties | 1 |
| Kitchen Maid | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Labourer (Ag) | 1 |
| Marine Store Dealer | 1 |
| Modeller (Artz) | 1 |
| Music Teacher | 1 |
| Office Boy (Err) | 1 |
| Paymaster | 1 |
| Paymaster R N Active List | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Pork Butcher | 1 |
| Pork Keeper Butcher | 1 |
| Railway Engine Packer (Wagon) | 1 |
| School Mistress | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Ship Draughtsman | 1 |
| Small Income (Annuitant) | 1 |
| Whitesmith | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Whiddon surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 74 in 2016. That gives Whiddon a modern rank of #33,441.
Derived from a place name meaning "wide valley" in Old English, likely referring to a person's residence.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Whiddon bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.