NameCensus.

UK surname

Whitchurch

A locational surname referring to someone from the town of Whitchurch.

In the 1881 census there were 330 people recorded with the Whitchurch surname, ranking it #9,088 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 377, ranked #12,415, down from #9,088 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Adur, Mansfield and Newport.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whitchurch is 426 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.2%.

1881 census count

330

Ranked #9,088

Modern count

377

2016, ranked #12,415

Peak year

1911

426 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whitchurch had 330 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,088 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 377 in 2016, ranked #12,415.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 426 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Whitchurch surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whitchurch surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Whitchurch 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 198 #10,483
1861 historical 318 #7,999
1881 historical 330 #9,088
1891 historical 422 #8,483
1901 historical 347 #10,500
1911 historical 426 #8,856
1997 modern 413 #10,743
1998 modern 419 #10,992
1999 modern 412 #11,203
2000 modern 397 #11,463
2001 modern 390 #11,420
2002 modern 412 #11,192
2003 modern 386 #11,544
2004 modern 392 #11,453
2005 modern 386 #11,493
2006 modern 365 #12,076
2007 modern 366 #12,176
2008 modern 376 #12,039
2009 modern 382 #12,150
2010 modern 395 #12,105
2011 modern 383 #12,244
2012 modern 380 #12,177
2013 modern 377 #12,449
2014 modern 384 #12,362
2015 modern 375 #12,470
2016 modern 377 #12,415

Geography

Back to top

Where Whitchurchs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham St Mary and Ilkeston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Adur, Mansfield, Newport, Middlesbrough and Bristol. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 Ilkeston Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Adur 002 Adur
2 Mansfield 009 Mansfield
3 Newport 019 Newport
4 Middlesbrough 014 Middlesbrough
5 Bristol 001 Bristol, City of

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Whitchurch

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Whitchurch

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Whitchurch is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Whitchurch is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Whitchurch 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 Whitchurch is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Whitchurch

The surname Whitchurch has its origins in England, primarily dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from several villages named Whitchurch that are scattered throughout England. The name is believed to originate from the Old English elements "hwita," meaning "white," and "cirice," meaning "church," suggesting that the name was likely given to a church that was painted white or built from white stone.

One of the earliest records of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a manor in Buckinghamshire known as "Witcerce" or "Witecerce" is documented. This listing signifies that the name was in use by the Norman Conquest, though it has seen several variations in spelling over the years, including Wytchurch and Wichirche, before eventually settling on the modern form.

In historical references, the surname appears in various documents dating back to the early and late Middle Ages. For example, Nicholas de Wychirch is recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275. Another early mention is that of John Wicroft, indicating the name's spread and varied spellings over different English counties.

One prominent individual bearing the surname Whitchurch was Edward Whitchurch, a notable printer in the 16th century. He was one of the first publishers of the Book of Common Prayer and various Protestant texts during the English Reformation. Edward Whitchurch's significant role in the publication of religious works made the surname well-known in the literary circles of his time.

Another notable figure is Robert Whitchurch, a clergyman in the 17th century. Born in 1621 and dying in 1691, he was a rector in Dorset and contributed to local religious and social life during the tumultuous period of the English Civil War and Restoration.

In the arts, Jane Whitchurch, an 18th-century portrait artist, gained some recognition for her exquisite miniatures, contributing to the surname's historical presence in the cultural domain. She lived from 1738 to 1806 and was celebrated for her delicate work, capturing the likenesses of several eminent figures of her time.

Military history also records the name Whitchurch, with Lieutenant Harold Whitchurch serving bravely during World War I. Born in 1885 and dying in 1916, Lieutenant Whitchurch was part of the British Expeditionary Forces and was commemorated for his service and bravery in various military memorials.

Lastly, William Whitchurch, an 18th-century merchant, played a significant role in expanding trade routes between England and the American colonies. Born in 1715 and dying in 1784, his successful ventures in transatlantic trade significantly impacted the commercial landscape of his era.

The surname Whitchurch has a rich and varied history, rooted in several localities across England and evolving through different spellings and forms. Its bearers have made notable contributions to literature, religion, art, and commerce throughout history, leaving a lasting legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Whitchurch families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whitchurch 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. Gloucestershire leads with 68 Whitchurchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.71x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 68 10.71x
Nottinghamshire 58 13.29x
Middlesex 33 1.02x
Lancashire 29 0.75x
Hampshire 19 2.86x
Somerset 19 3.64x
Wiltshire 18 6.28x
Yorkshire 16 0.50x
Leicestershire 11 3.06x
Surrey 10 0.63x
Essex 5 0.78x
Herefordshire 5 3.77x
Warwickshire 5 0.61x
Worcestershire 5 1.18x
Devon 4 0.59x
Oxfordshire 4 2.00x
Derbyshire 3 0.59x
Monmouthshire 3 1.28x
Northamptonshire 3 0.98x
Berkshire 2 0.82x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.02x
Cheshire 2 0.28x
Royal Navy 2 5.18x
Staffordshire 2 0.18x
Sussex 2 0.37x
Dorset 1 0.47x
Kent 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 47 Whitchurchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.63x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 47 41.63x
Brightside Bierlow 16 25.42x
Henbury 13 419.35x
Bitton Oldland 12 184.90x
Oldham 10 8.06x
Bedminster 9 18.37x
Bitton 9 162.75x
Fulham London 9 19.16x
Leicester St Margaret 8 9.14x
Mangotsfield 8 126.38x
Edmonton 7 26.83x
Snenton 7 40.82x
St Mary Extra 7 131.09x
Weston Super Mare 7 53.19x
Burstow 6 447.76x
Manchester 6 3.47x
Olveston 6 335.20x
Birmingham 5 1.84x
Bristol St George 5 17.02x
Downton 5 133.33x
Dudley 5 9.72x
Market Lavington 5 322.58x
Southampton All Sts 5 43.90x
Welsh Newton 5 2000.00x
Woodford 5 69.06x
Hulme 4 4.99x
Lundy Island 4 2000.00x
Newton 4 13.50x
Oxford St Mary Magdalen 4 168.78x
St Helens 4 82.82x
West Overton 4 533.33x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 3 51.81x
Clifton 3 9.34x
Devizes St John 3 139.53x
Kensington London 3 1.67x
Melton Mowbray 3 46.44x
Southampton St Mary 3 7.19x
Tidenham Beachley 3 434.78x
Brackley St Peter 2 95.69x
Burton Joyce 2 270.27x
Cheltenham 2 4.08x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.62x
Hampstead London 2 3.97x
Haughton 2 35.65x
Ilkeston 2 14.06x
Islington London 2 0.64x
Radford Lenton 2 183.49x
Royal Navy 2 6.06x
Southwick 2 69.20x
Upton Cum Chalvey 2 25.64x
Bedwellty 1 2.42x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 1.67x
Bromley London 1 1.40x
Chard 1 15.85x
Chelsea London 1 1.02x
Cholsey 1 52.08x
Clarendon Park 1 416.67x
Derby St Werburgh 1 3.42x
Frampton Cotterell 1 44.84x
Great Little Marsden 1 5.68x
Handsworth 1 3.71x
Kelmarsh 1 434.78x
Lambeth 1 0.35x
Marcham 1 114.94x
Monckton Combe 1 59.88x
Morden 1 128.21x
Nash 1 384.62x
Newbold Astbury 1 117.65x
Northwich 1 87.72x
Paddington London 1 0.84x
Ramsgate 1 5.54x
Southwark Christchurch 1 6.59x
St Anne Soho London 1 5.41x
Stanwell 1 41.67x
Stoke Newington London 1 3.96x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 0.86x
Stretford 1 4.73x
Tidenham 1 102.04x
Weymouth 1 24.81x
Winterbourne 1 28.49x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 22
William 12
Henry 10
Thomas 10
James 8
George 7
Joseph 5
Arthur 4
Charles 4
Alfred 3
Harry 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Phillip 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Allick 1
Benjamin 1
Cornelius 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Ellen 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Jane 1
Jas.Theobald 1
Leslie 1
Oliver 1
Reginald 1
Regind.John 1
Richd. 1
Samual 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Talman 1
Theobold 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Geo.Eustace 1

FAQ

Whitchurch surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whitchurch surname in 1881?

In 1881, 330 people were recorded with the Whitchurch surname. That placed it at #9,088 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whitchurch surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 377 in 2016. That gives Whitchurch a modern rank of #12,415.

What does the Whitchurch surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from the town of Whitchurch.

What does the Whitchurch map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Whitchurch 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.