NameCensus.

UK surname

Whitelock

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "white hill or lock."

In the 1881 census there were 857 people recorded with the Whitelock surname, ranking it #4,415 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,472, ranked #4,183, up from #4,415 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lantwit-juxta-Neath, London parishes and Leeds. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Neath Port Talbot, Hartlepool and Swansea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whitelock is 1,589 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.8%.

1881 census count

857

Ranked #4,415

Modern count

1,472

2016, ranked #4,183

Peak year

2010

1,589 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whitelock had 857 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,415 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,472 in 2016, ranked #4,183.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,164 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Whitelock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whitelock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whitelock 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 465 #5,332
1861 historical 550 #4,785
1881 historical 857 #4,415
1891 historical 923 #4,479
1901 historical 1,116 #4,336
1911 historical 1,164 #4,018
1997 modern 1,455 #4,015
1998 modern 1,508 #4,024
1999 modern 1,517 #4,039
2000 modern 1,503 #4,061
2001 modern 1,479 #4,032
2002 modern 1,540 #3,987
2003 modern 1,510 #3,978
2004 modern 1,495 #4,016
2005 modern 1,494 #3,977
2006 modern 1,531 #3,888
2007 modern 1,548 #3,880
2008 modern 1,553 #3,895
2009 modern 1,569 #3,944
2010 modern 1,589 #3,976
2011 modern 1,572 #3,979
2012 modern 1,508 #4,064
2013 modern 1,501 #4,154
2014 modern 1,511 #4,151
2015 modern 1,480 #4,184
2016 modern 1,472 #4,183

Geography

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Where Whitelocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lantwit-juxta-Neath, London parishes, Leeds, Glasgow and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Neath Port Talbot, Hartlepool, Swansea and Tower Hamlets. 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 Lantwit-juxta-Neath Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Neath Port Talbot 016 Neath Port Talbot
2 Hartlepool 012 Hartlepool
3 Swansea 011 Swansea
4 Tower Hamlets 020 Tower Hamlets
5 Hartlepool 002 Hartlepool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whitelock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whitelock

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Whitelock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Whitelock household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Whitelock is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Whitelock 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

Whitelock 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 Whitelock is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Whitelock

The surname Whitelock traces its origins to England, particularly in the northern and western regions, around the 12th to 13th centuries. It is believed to be derived from Old English elements, with "hwitan," meaning white, and "loc," meaning lock of hair, implying someone with white or fair hair. This descriptive nature of surnames was common in medieval England when surnames began to be used more widely to distinguish individuals.

Early records of the Whitelock surname appear in various historical documents. One of the earliest mentions is found in the Poll Tax records of Yorkshire in 1379, where a family bearing the surname Whitelock is noted. The name also appears in medieval manorial rolls and other local records which provide a snapshot of its distribution and prevalence during that time.

The Domesday Book does not mention Whitelock directly, but the regions in England where the name first appeared were certainly recorded in this extensive survey ordered by William the Conqueror in 1086. It is likely the name developed shortly after this period as surnames became hereditary.

Famous historical figures with the name Whitelock include Bulstrode Whitelock, an influential lawyer and politician born in 1605 and died in 1675. Bulstrode played a significant role during the English Civil War and was a member of the Parliamentarian side. Another notable Whitelock was John Whitelock, an English army officer born in 1757 and died in 1833. He served in various military campaigns during the Napoleonic Wars but is perhaps best remembered for his controversial role in the Buenos Aires expedition in 1807.

The Whitelock surname has also been recorded in connection with localized place names. For instance, Whitelock's Place in London is thought to have roots in the late 16th to early 17th century, possibly named after a landowner or noteworthy resident of that time.

Jane Whitelock, who lived in the 18th century, was known for her works in botanical illustration, contributing to the rich tapestry of scientific curiosity during this period. She is a lesser-known but significant figure in the history of botanical studies.

Throughout history, the Whitelock name has seen varied spellings such as Whitloc, Whitlocke, and Whytlok, reflecting the fluid nature of English spelling conventions prior to the standardization imposed in the following centuries.

The surname Whitelock remains a fascinating example of how descriptive surnames evolved in medieval England and how they offer insights into the physical characteristics and societal roles of individuals long gone.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Whitelock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whitelock 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. Yorkshire leads with 215 Whitelocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.58x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 215 2.58x
Middlesex 92 1.09x
Durham 61 2.44x
Devon 52 2.97x
Surrey 48 1.17x
Somerset 43 3.18x
Lancashire 41 0.41x
Cumberland 39 5.39x
Glamorgan 26 1.78x
Lanarkshire 26 0.96x
Sussex 26 1.83x
Dorset 25 4.53x
Essex 25 1.51x
Nottinghamshire 25 2.21x
Hampshire 15 0.87x
Kent 12 0.42x
Bedfordshire 11 2.53x
Gloucestershire 10 0.61x
Berkshire 8 1.27x
Cornwall 8 0.84x
Lincolnshire 7 0.52x
Hertfordshire 6 1.04x
Wiltshire 6 0.81x
Royal Navy 5 4.99x
Staffordshire 5 0.18x
Leicestershire 4 0.43x
Northumberland 4 0.32x
Warwickshire 3 0.14x
Westmorland 3 1.62x
Worcestershire 3 0.27x
Berwickshire 2 1.96x
Oxfordshire 2 0.39x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.19x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.60x
Norfolk 1 0.08x
Northamptonshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Toxteth Park in Lancashire leads with 25 Whitelocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.40x.

Place Total Index
Toxteth Park 25 7.40x
Barony 20 2.91x
Stoke Damerel 19 15.51x
St Pancras London 18 2.66x
Leeds 17 3.61x
Llantwit Lower 16 124.32x
West Ham 15 4.09x
Lambeth 13 1.77x
Hartlepool 12 33.76x
Canford Magna 11 344.83x
Newington 11 3.54x
Thornhill 11 45.25x
Luton 10 13.27x
Plymouth St Andrew 10 7.42x
Wakefield 10 15.63x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 9 11.59x
Horton In Bradford 9 6.92x
Kirdford 9 182.93x
Markington Cum 9 671.64x
Mile End Old Town 9 6.78x
Nuthall 9 211.76x
Parkstone 9 139.75x
Bowling 8 9.69x
Dawdon 8 26.00x
Gillingham 8 13.52x
Holy Trinity 8 3.99x
Stranton 8 9.50x
Wath In Ripon Norton 8 792.08x
Workington 8 19.30x
Ystradyfodwg 8 6.23x
Hampstead London 7 5.35x
Harmby 7 1346.15x
Hetton Le Hole 7 22.08x
Islington London 7 0.86x
Shoreditch London 7 1.92x
Wantage 7 69.58x
Warlaby 7 3181.82x
Armley 6 16.33x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.64x
Clifton In York 6 34.42x
Crosscanonby 6 25.06x
East Stonehouse 6 17.40x
Egremont 6 34.76x
Hastings St Mary 6 17.01x
Howsham 6 1200.00x
Sandford Orcas 6 821.92x
Scunthorpe 6 99.17x
St Ewe 6 208.33x
St Marylebone London 6 1.34x
Yarlington 6 1000.00x
Basford 5 9.57x
Bermondsey 5 2.00x
Bessingby 5 1219.51x
Bishopwearmouth 5 2.33x
Bristol St George 5 6.56x
Castle Cary 5 84.75x
Chopwell 5 107.53x
Harrington 5 57.21x
Manningham 5 4.87x
Parton 5 117.10x
Pickering 5 47.66x
Plymouth Charles The 5 6.48x
Ratcliffe London 5 10.77x
Royal Navy 5 5.84x
Snenton 5 11.23x
Southwick 5 21.11x
St Giles 5 32.03x
Stoke Canon 5 406.50x
Walsall Foreign 5 3.41x
Waltham Holy Cross 5 32.24x
Bradford 4 1.98x
Brampford Speke 4 285.71x
Combe Hay 4 740.74x
Hunslet 4 3.08x
Monckton Combe 4 92.38x
Portsea 4 1.18x
Shettleston 4 16.43x
Southcoates 4 8.65x
Thornton Steward 4 555.56x
Wandsworth 4 4.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 54
Elizabeth 46
Sarah 33
Jane 23
Annie 16
Alice 15
Ann 14
Ellen 12
Emily 11
Emma 11
Louisa 11
Margaret 11
Eliza 10
Martha 10
Hannah 9
Edith 7
Florence 7
Fanny 6
Isabella 6
Susan 6
Ada 5
Maria 5
Amy 4
Beatrice 3
Bessie 3
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Grace 3
Jessie 3
Julia 3
Kate 3
Rose 3
Agnes 2
Anna 2
Augusta 2
Henrietta 2
Janet 2
Matilda 2
R. 2
Rebecca 2
Sopha 2
Susannah 2
Eleanor 1
Elenor 1
Elizth.A. 1
Harriet 1
Ida 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 56
John 51
James 29
George 24
Thomas 22
Charles 19
Henry 17
Frederick 11
Joseph 11
Robert 11
Arthur 10
Richard 9
Alfred 7
Edward 7
Christopher 6
Harry 6
David 4
Francis 4
Frank 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Ernest 3
Matthew 3
Tom 3
Alexander 2
Benjn. 2
Elias 2
Fredrick 2
Herbert 2
Jesse 2
Jno. 2
Philip 2
Samuel 2
Wm. 2
Wm.H. 2
Bob 1
Ch. 1
Chas. 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Fk. 1
Fr. 1
Fred 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Jas. 1
Jos. 1
Joshu 1
Wm.P. 1

FAQ

Whitelock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whitelock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 857 people were recorded with the Whitelock surname. That placed it at #4,415 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whitelock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,472 in 2016. That gives Whitelock a modern rank of #4,183.

What does the Whitelock surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "white hill or lock."

What does the Whitelock map show?

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