NameCensus.

UK surname

Whitburn

A locative surname originating from a place named "Whitburn" in England or Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 230 people recorded with the Whitburn surname, ranking it #11,748 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 231, ranked #17,764, down from #11,748 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Feock, London parishes and Gwennap. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, South Somerset and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whitburn is 303 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.4%.

1881 census count

230

Ranked #11,748

Modern count

231

2016, ranked #17,764

Peak year

1901

303 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whitburn had 230 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,748 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 231 in 2016, ranked #17,764.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 303 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Whitburn surname distribution map

The map shows where the Whitburn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Whitburn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whitburn over time

The 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 208 #10,107
1861 historical 192 #12,423
1881 historical 230 #11,748
1891 historical 275 #11,847
1901 historical 303 #11,569
1911 historical 289 #11,738
1997 modern 215 #16,844
1998 modern 223 #16,936
1999 modern 226 #16,884
2000 modern 227 #16,792
2001 modern 218 #17,017
2002 modern 221 #17,206
2003 modern 213 #17,395
2004 modern 213 #17,492
2005 modern 205 #17,838
2006 modern 225 #16,941
2007 modern 224 #17,193
2008 modern 219 #17,597
2009 modern 219 #17,960
2010 modern 223 #18,096
2011 modern 214 #18,436
2012 modern 231 #17,448
2013 modern 233 #17,606
2014 modern 240 #17,387
2015 modern 230 #17,795
2016 modern 231 #17,764

Geography

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Where Whitburns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Feock, London parishes, Gwennap, Kea and Falmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, South Somerset, Birmingham and Peterborough. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Feock Cornwall
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gwennap Cornwall
4 Kea Cornwall
5 Falmouth Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 047 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 044 Cornwall
3 South Somerset 018 South Somerset
4 Birmingham 102 Birmingham
5 Peterborough 004 Peterborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whitburn

These lists show first names that appear often with the Whitburn surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whitburn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Whitburn, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Whitburn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Whitburn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Whitburn is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Whitburn is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Whitburn falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Whitburn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Whitburn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Whitburn

The surname Whitburn has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from a combination of Old English words: 'hwita,' meaning 'white,' and 'burna,' meaning 'stream.' This suggests that the name was originally used to describe someone who lived near a clear or white stream, a notable natural feature in their locality.

The earliest recorded instance of the name was found in the county of Durham, specifically in a locality called Whitburn. Whitburn is also a village in the district known as South Tyneside. This area is rich in history, with settlements dating back to the early Middle Ages. Records from parish registers and local censuses reveal that the Whitburn name was prominent in this region as far back as the 12th century.

One of the earliest references to the name appears in historical manuscripts such as the Boldon Book of 1183, which served as a survey similar to the Domesday Book, but focused on the Bishopric of Durham. In this book, a 'Robert de Witburn' is mentioned, indicating the presence of this surname in significant historical records.

An important figure in the history of this surname is John Whitburn, born in 1420 and noted for his role as an abbot at Durham Cathedral. His tenure and influence in the ecclesiastical community mark a significant historical mention of the surname in religious circles.

Thomas Whitburn, born in 1560, was a notable landowner in Whitburn village and is recorded in land transaction documents of the Elizabethan era. His prominence is indicative of the name's establishment in local nobility and gentry.

Another significant figure bearing the surname was Margaret Whitburn, who lived in the late 15th century and was known for her philanthropic efforts in South Tyneside. Her charitable works and endowments left a lasting impact on the local community.

In the world of academia, James Whitburn, born in 1702, contributed significantly to the field of natural sciences. His studies on the waterways of northern England clearly drew inspiration from the etymological origins of his surname, reflecting a deep connection to his heritage.

Finally, William Whitburn, born in 1850, gained recognition as an influential industrialist during the Industrial Revolution. His contributions to the coal mining industry in Durham were notable, securing his place in the annals of history linked to the surname Whitburn.

The surname Whitburn carries a rich history rooted in the geographical and social landscape of medieval and early modern England. Its prevalence in historical records and association with notable figures over centuries underscores its enduring legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Whitburn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whitburn surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cornwall leads with 88 Whitburns recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.35x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 88 34.35x
Surrey 38 3.45x
Middlesex 29 1.28x
Lancashire 20 0.74x
Devon 19 4.03x
Monmouthshire 10 6.11x
Berkshire 8 4.71x
Hampshire 4 0.86x
Kent 4 0.52x
Sussex 4 1.05x
Yorkshire 4 0.18x
Ayrshire 1 0.59x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.73x
Flintshire 1 1.64x
Royal Navy 1 3.71x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gwennap in Cornwall leads with 14 Whitburns recorded in 1881 and an index of 289.86x.

Place Total Index
Gwennap 14 289.86x
Falmouth 11 121.28x
Feock 10 625.00x
St Woollos 10 54.76x
Barrow In Furness 8 21.91x
Calstock 8 159.36x
Lambeth 8 4.05x
Orrell 8 239.52x
Camberwell 7 4.84x
Kea 7 366.49x
Truro St Mary 7 325.58x
Clapham 6 21.21x
Crowan 6 295.57x
Exeter St Sidwell 6 55.61x
Hampstead London 6 17.03x
St Pancras London 6 3.29x
Camborne 5 47.35x
Tavistock 5 93.11x
Burghfield 4 400.00x
Guildford Holy Trinity 4 190.48x
Mortimer West End 4 1333.33x
Normanby In 4 66.78x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 11.02x
Poplar London 4 9.37x
St Just In Penwith 4 80.48x
Guildford St Nicholas 3 153.85x
Leominster 3 243.90x
Send Ripley 3 208.33x
St Stephen 3 329.67x
Tonbridge 3 10.77x
Westminster St John 3 10.89x
Woking 3 45.11x
Bethnal Green London 2 2.03x
Budock 2 103.63x
Clewer 2 28.74x
Ealing 2 9.89x
Exminster 2 118.34x
Hornsey 2 6.99x
Kenwyn 2 29.85x
Mortimer 2 246.91x
Moss Side 2 14.15x
Redruth 2 27.59x
Scilly Islands 2 434.78x
St Cleer 2 90.09x
St Clement 2 74.91x
Stoke 2 38.46x
Stoke Damerel 2 6.07x
Brighton 1 1.30x
Eton 1 32.26x
Fulham London 1 3.05x
Gravesend 1 15.29x
Islington London 1 0.46x
Kensington London 1 0.79x
Lancaster 1 6.26x
Liverpool 1 0.61x
Long Ditton 1 55.56x
Mylor 1 58.14x
Rhuddlan 1 18.69x
Royal Navy 1 4.34x
St Anne Soho London 1 7.74x
Stevenston 1 22.68x
Wonersh 1 72.46x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Whitburn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 12
Ann 7
Sarah 7
Edith 6
Emily 6
Jane 6
Ellen 5
Annie 4
Catherine 3
Nanny 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Georgina 2
Grace 2
Martha 2
Adeline 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Amy 1
Caroline 1
Carrie 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Emilia 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Hellner 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Juliana 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Louise 1
Lousia 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Nellie 1
Nuney 1
Priscilia 1
Rosa 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Susan. 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Whitburn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 14
James 10
William 10
Charles 8
Henry 7
Joseph 5
George 4
Alfred 3
Joel 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Chas. 2
Daniel 2
Frederick 2
Nicholas 2
Thomas 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Arnold 1
C...tofer 1
Cecil 1
D. 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Elias 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Hy. 1
Jas. 1
Jno.Hy. 1
Jos.C. 1
Maria 1
Michael 1
Nanny 1
Rich.A. 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Willm.H. 1
Wm.Fk. 1

FAQ

Whitburn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whitburn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 230 people were recorded with the Whitburn surname. That placed it at #11,748 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whitburn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 231 in 2016. That gives Whitburn a modern rank of #17,764.

What does the Whitburn surname mean?

A locative surname originating from a place named "Whitburn" in England or Scotland.

What does the Whitburn map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Whitburn bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.