NameCensus.

UK surname

Whitehurst

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a white wooded hill or a white deer enclosure.

In the 1881 census there were 955 people recorded with the Whitehurst surname, ranking it #4,053 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,827, ranked #3,468, up from #4,053 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Biddulph, Wolstanton and Astbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Staffordshire Moorlands and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whitehurst is 1,991 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 91.3%.

1881 census count

955

Ranked #4,053

Modern count

1,827

2016, ranked #3,468

Peak year

2000

1,991 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whitehurst had 955 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,053 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,827 in 2016, ranked #3,468.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,484 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Whitehurst surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whitehurst surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whitehurst 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 550 #4,603
1861 historical 582 #4,530
1881 historical 955 #4,053
1891 historical 1,072 #3,921
1901 historical 1,347 #3,721
1911 historical 1,484 #3,245
1997 modern 1,507 #3,892
1998 modern 1,906 #3,283
1999 modern 1,932 #3,265
2000 modern 1,991 #3,172
2001 modern 1,914 #3,218
2002 modern 1,941 #3,248
2003 modern 1,890 #3,254
2004 modern 1,862 #3,295
2005 modern 1,828 #3,317
2006 modern 1,838 #3,314
2007 modern 1,829 #3,353
2008 modern 1,823 #3,398
2009 modern 1,857 #3,420
2010 modern 1,895 #3,428
2011 modern 1,906 #3,367
2012 modern 1,868 #3,375
2013 modern 1,888 #3,395
2014 modern 1,882 #3,425
2015 modern 1,864 #3,422
2016 modern 1,827 #3,468

Geography

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Where Whitehursts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Biddulph, Wolstanton, Astbury, St Werburgh and Cheadle. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Staffordshire Moorlands and Cheshire East. 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 Biddulph Cheshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 Astbury Cheshire
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Cheadle Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 014 Barnsley
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 003 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 Cheshire East 026 Cheshire East
4 Cheshire East 027 Cheshire East
5 Staffordshire Moorlands 010 Staffordshire Moorlands

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whitehurst

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whitehurst

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Whitehurst, 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 Whitehurst surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Whitehurst 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Whitehurst is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Whitehurst is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Whitehurst falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Whitehurst 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 Whitehurst, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Whitehurst

The surname WHITEHURST has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from the place name 'Whitehurst' or 'Whitehurst', which likely referred to a white wooded area or a clearing in a forest. The name is composed of the Old English words 'hwit' meaning white and 'hyrst' meaning a wooded hill or a grove.

The earliest known records of the name WHITEHURST can be traced back to the 13th century in the county of Lancashire, where it is believed to have originated. One of the earliest recorded instances is found in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire from 1285, which mentions a Robert de Whytehurst.

In the 14th century, the WHITEHURST name appeared in various medieval records, including the Wills and Inventories of the Northern Counties of England. One notable example from 1369 mentions a John de Whitehurst, who was a landowner in the village of Whitehurst near Burnley, Lancashire.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the WHITEHURST family spread across different parts of England, with records showing their presence in counties like Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Derbyshire. One prominent figure from this period was John Whitehurst (1713-1788), a clockmaker, scientist, and philosopher from Derbyshire, who made significant contributions to the study of geology and mineralogy.

Another notable individual was James Whitehurst (1749-1808), a writer, and poet from Staffordshire, who published several works including "The Village Curate" and "The Solitary Wanderer."

In the 18th century, the WHITEHURST name gained further recognition with the birth of John Whitehurst (1770-1835), a prominent engineer and inventor from Staffordshire. He is credited with designing and building several innovative bridges and canal structures across England.

Other notable figures include Mary Whitehurst (1828-1892), a philanthropist and social reformer from Derbyshire, who dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the working class, and Sir John Whitehurst (1857-1932), a distinguished lawyer and judge from Lancashire, who served as the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.

Throughout its history, the WHITEHURST surname has been spelled in various ways, including Whitehirst, Whythurst, and Whiteherst, reflecting the regional variations and evolving spellings over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Whitehurst families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whitehurst 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. Staffordshire leads with 383 Whitehursts recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.23x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 383 12.23x
Cheshire 183 8.94x
Lancashire 155 1.41x
Derbyshire 84 5.78x
Middlesex 18 0.19x
Warwickshire 18 0.77x
Surrey 15 0.33x
Shropshire 12 1.50x
Yorkshire 9 0.10x
Angus 8 0.93x
Worcestershire 8 0.66x
Herefordshire 7 1.84x
Kent 7 0.22x
Sussex 7 0.45x
Flintshire 6 2.41x
Hampshire 6 0.32x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.48x
Berkshire 5 0.72x
Durham 3 0.11x
Northamptonshire 3 0.34x
Cornwall 2 0.19x
Essex 2 0.11x
Denbighshire 1 0.29x
Gloucestershire 1 0.06x
Leicestershire 1 0.10x
Norfolk 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Biddulph in Staffordshire leads with 78 Whitehursts recorded in 1881 and an index of 441.43x.

Place Total Index
Biddulph 78 441.43x
Congleton 70 197.85x
Wolstanton 64 67.29x
Stoke Upon Trent 56 16.86x
Odd Rode 24 236.69x
Cheadle 23 152.93x
Manchester 23 4.65x
Burslem 22 24.53x
Dilhorne 21 403.07x
Macclesfield 21 23.07x
Derby St Werburgh 20 23.85x
Bollington In 17 93.25x
Heap 17 29.12x
Trentham 15 56.33x
Caverswall 13 79.85x
Birmingham 12 1.54x
Derby St Alkmund 12 27.57x
Derby St Peter 12 25.94x
Burton Upon Trent 10 13.65x
Chorlton On Medlock 10 5.72x
Norton In Moors 10 60.31x
Shrewsbury St Chad 10 35.55x
Hyde 9 14.89x
Moss Side 9 15.54x
Newbold Astbury 9 368.85x
Tipton 9 9.39x
Brereton Cum Smethwick 8 410.26x
Derby St Michael 8 262.30x
Gorton 8 7.73x
Oldham 8 2.25x
St Pancras London 8 1.07x
Denton 7 28.70x
Everton 7 2.00x
Liff Benvie 7 5.37x
Litchurch 7 11.98x
Llangarren 7 205.28x
Wednesfield 7 15.19x
Wolverhampton 7 2.91x
Crich 6 63.29x
Handsworth 6 7.77x
Hulme 6 2.61x
Itchen Stoke 6 666.67x
Kingsley 6 102.74x
Kirkdale 6 3.24x
Lingfield 6 68.10x
Little Bolton 6 4.24x
Putney 6 14.19x
Stockport 6 5.69x
Wardleworth 6 9.54x
Wolstanton Thursfield 6 157.89x
Alvaston 5 120.77x
Bredbury 5 42.19x
Charney 5 714.29x
East Grinstead 5 22.58x
Fulham London 5 3.72x
Kidderminster Borough 5 7.05x
Rhuddlan 5 22.78x
Stretford 5 8.26x
Wuerdle Wardle 5 14.96x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 1.66x
Brightside Bierlow 4 2.22x
Checkley 4 49.20x
Cudham 4 123.46x
Denston 4 283.69x
Mark Eaton 4 183.49x
Newcastle Under Lyme 4 7.22x
Salford 4 1.24x
Stone 4 9.99x
Sutton Stoneferry 4 15.21x
West Bromwich 4 2.23x
Brackley St Peter 3 50.08x
Buglawton 3 60.85x
Derby All Sts 3 24.73x
Hurdsfield 3 23.81x
Huyton With Roby 3 23.26x
Kings Norton 3 2.76x
Monkwearmouth Shore 3 5.57x
Newton 3 3.54x
Rochester St Margaret 3 8.99x
Snenton 3 6.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 78
Sarah 43
Elizabeth 37
Ann 22
Annie 17
Ellen 17
Emma 17
Hannah 17
Emily 13
Jane 13
Martha 12
Fanny 10
Eliza 9
Alice 8
Louisa 8
Margaret 8
Frances 7
Elizth. 6
Bertha 4
Catherine 4
Edith 4
Florence 4
Gertrude 4
Ruth 4
Ada 3
Agnes 3
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Harriet 3
Harriett 3
Lizzie 3
Lucy 3
Phoebe 3
Clara 2
Ethel 2
Minnie 2
Prudence 2
Rebecca 2
Susan 2
Amy 1
Betty 1
Catharine 1
Elanor 1
Elisabeth 1
Elisebeth 1
Helen 1
Hellen 1
James 1
Janet 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 72
William 53
Thomas 40
George 37
Joseph 34
James 31
Charles 26
Henry 18
Samuel 14
Arthur 11
Frederick 9
Edward 7
Richard 7
Edwin 6
Frank 6
Francis 5
Walter 5
David 4
Herbert 4
Robert 4
Albert 3
Chas. 3
Enoch 3
Fredk. 3
Levi 3
Paul 3
Simeon 3
Squire 3
Alfred 2
Daniel 2
Edgar 2
Enos 2
Jesse 2
Lewis 2
Robt. 2
Thos. 2
Thos.Teece 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Arther 1
Edmund 1
Ernald 1
F. 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Geo.John 1
Oliver 1
Ralph 1
Raymond 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Whitehurst surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whitehurst surname in 1881?

In 1881, 955 people were recorded with the Whitehurst surname. That placed it at #4,053 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whitehurst surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,827 in 2016. That gives Whitehurst a modern rank of #3,468.

What does the Whitehurst surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a white wooded hill or a white deer enclosure.

What does the Whitehurst map show?

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