NameCensus.

UK surname

Whiteman

A descriptive surname referring to a person with very pale skin or white hair.

In the 1881 census there were 1,935 people recorded with the Whiteman surname, ranking it #2,255 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,483, ranked #2,658, down from #2,255 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Neath Port Talbot, Malvern Hills and Charnwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whiteman is 2,774 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.3%.

1881 census count

1,935

Ranked #2,255

Modern count

2,483

2016, ranked #2,658

Peak year

1999

2,774 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whiteman had 1,935 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,255 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,483 in 2016, ranked #2,658.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,626 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Whiteman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whiteman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whiteman 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 1,198 #2,374
1861 historical 1,467 #1,933
1881 historical 1,935 #2,255
1891 historical 2,232 #2,089
1901 historical 2,535 #2,168
1911 historical 2,626 #1,960
1997 modern 2,628 #2,422
1998 modern 2,758 #2,408
1999 modern 2,774 #2,408
2000 modern 2,746 #2,421
2001 modern 2,659 #2,441
2002 modern 2,667 #2,476
2003 modern 2,556 #2,509
2004 modern 2,580 #2,500
2005 modern 2,512 #2,529
2006 modern 2,492 #2,552
2007 modern 2,506 #2,563
2008 modern 2,507 #2,579
2009 modern 2,563 #2,585
2010 modern 2,591 #2,622
2011 modern 2,571 #2,604
2012 modern 2,518 #2,611
2013 modern 2,585 #2,587
2014 modern 2,579 #2,603
2015 modern 2,503 #2,649
2016 modern 2,483 #2,658

Geography

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Where Whitemans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes, St Werburgh and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. 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, Malvern Hills, Charnwood, Cotswold and Rother. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Neath Port Talbot 020 Neath Port Talbot
2 Malvern Hills 002 Malvern Hills
3 Charnwood 011 Charnwood
4 Cotswold 009 Cotswold
5 Rother 005 Rother

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whiteman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whiteman

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Whiteman 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

Whiteman is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Whiteman falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Whiteman

The surname WHITEMAN is of English origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is a descriptive name derived from the Old English words "hwit" meaning white and "man" referring to a person. The name likely originated as a nickname for someone with fair hair or complexion, distinguishing them from others in their community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the WHITEMAN surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, which mentions a William Whyteman. The Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273 also lists a John Whiteman among the tenants of that county.

In the 14th century, the WHITEMAN name appears in various medieval records, such as the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire from 1317, which references a Adam Whyteman. The name is also found in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379, listing a Thomas Whyteman as a taxpayer.

The WHITEMAN surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One example is John Whiteman (c.1500-1557), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton in Somerset during the reign of Queen Mary I.

Another prominent figure bearing this surname was William Whiteman (1621-1685), an English writer and philosopher who authored several works on metaphysics and theology, including "The Immateriality of the Soul" published in 1679.

In the 18th century, Samuel Whiteman (1724-1786) was a successful merchant and landowner in Worcestershire, England. He served as the High Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1768 and contributed significantly to the local economy and community.

The WHITEMAN surname has also been found in various place names throughout England, such as Whitemansfield in Gloucestershire and Whitemansgreen in Buckinghamshire, further indicating the historical presence and influence of families bearing this name.

In the 19th century, Sir George Whiteman (1819-1895) was a notable British civil engineer who oversaw the construction of several major railway projects, including the London Underground and the Manchester Ship Canal.

Throughout its long history, the WHITEMAN surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name across different eras and regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Whiteman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whiteman 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. Middlesex leads with 275 Whitemans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.46x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 275 1.46x
Sussex 135 4.25x
Bedfordshire 126 12.91x
Warwickshire 107 2.25x
Northamptonshire 104 5.87x
Surrey 104 1.13x
Lancashire 102 0.46x
Yorkshire 100 0.54x
Derbyshire 80 2.71x
Norfolk 53 1.83x
Huntingdonshire 52 13.90x
Shropshire 51 3.13x
Kent 50 0.78x
Leicestershire 47 2.25x
Berkshire 44 3.11x
Essex 38 1.02x
Nottinghamshire 38 1.50x
Wiltshire 38 2.28x
Hampshire 34 0.88x
Durham 30 0.54x
Cambridgeshire 27 2.26x
Northumberland 27 0.96x
Gloucestershire 26 0.70x
Staffordshire 25 0.39x
Buckinghamshire 23 2.02x
Suffolk 23 1.00x
Worcestershire 22 0.89x
Monmouthshire 19 1.39x
Cheshire 16 0.38x
Lincolnshire 16 0.53x
Oxfordshire 13 1.12x
Brecknockshire 11 2.92x
Herefordshire 9 1.16x
Angus 7 0.40x
Glamorgan 6 0.18x
Lanarkshire 6 0.10x
Ayrshire 5 0.35x
Perthshire 5 0.59x
Rutland 5 3.61x
Somerset 5 0.16x
Argyllshire 4 0.76x
Fife 4 0.36x
Stirlingshire 4 0.58x
Hertfordshire 3 0.23x
Westmorland 3 0.72x
Dorset 2 0.16x
Midlothian 2 0.08x
Renfrewshire 2 0.14x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.13x
Channel Islands 1 0.18x
Cumberland 1 0.06x
Devon 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 36 Whitemans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.38x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 36 4.38x
Islington London 33 1.81x
Shoreditch London 28 3.43x
Coventry St Michael 24 15.72x
Cleobury Mortimer 21 204.68x
Dunchurch 20 308.17x
Bromley London 19 4.58x
Derby St Peter 19 20.22x
St Pancras London 19 1.25x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 19 21.90x
Warbleton 17 179.51x
Cowpen 16 24.78x
Wooburn 16 101.91x
Wymington 16 501.57x
Barrow In Furness 15 4.93x
Camberwell 15 1.25x
Croydon 15 2.94x
Kensington London 15 1.43x
Lambeth 15 0.91x
Nottingham St Mary 15 2.28x
Oldham 15 2.08x
Stratton St Margaret 15 58.66x
Battersea 14 2.02x
Chelsea London 14 2.47x
Church Lawford 14 813.95x
Houghton Conquest 14 349.13x
Trevethin 14 10.88x
Edmonton 13 8.56x
Hove 13 9.32x
Kingswinford 13 5.63x
Northill 13 142.39x
Sevenoaks 12 23.02x
Accrington 11 5.41x
Blunham 11 166.41x
Finedon 11 70.83x
Hackney London 11 1.04x
Hastings St Mary In The 11 16.23x
Kimbolton 11 139.59x
Mansfield 11 12.51x
Maulden 11 130.02x
Pontefract 11 27.34x
Rothwell 11 61.76x
Westerleigh 11 132.69x
Worcester St Peter 11 23.62x
Aldrington 10 1075.27x
Coventry Holy Trinity 10 7.05x
Maidstone 10 5.22x
Northampton St Giles 10 14.81x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 10 56.75x
Terrington St Clement 10 76.39x
Wallingford All Hallows 10 925.93x
Wortley In Bramley 10 6.76x
Bedford St Paul 9 13.45x
Bermondsey 9 1.60x
Biggleswade 9 28.16x
Brighton 9 1.40x
Derby St Werburgh 9 5.28x
Fulham London 9 3.29x
Ore 9 38.06x
Paddington London 9 1.30x
Rodbourne Cheney 9 69.93x
Sedgefield 9 45.02x
Stratford On Avon 9 34.14x
Ampthill 8 54.91x
Beddington 8 22.53x
Bethnal Green London 8 0.98x
Brandon Byshottles 8 11.39x
Everton 8 1.12x
Heanor 8 18.13x
Ipswich St Margaret 8 10.27x
Leicester St Mary 8 4.74x
Lewes St Michael 8 126.78x
Mile End Old Town 8 2.69x
Molesworth 8 588.24x
Northampton St Sepulchre 8 8.87x
Northfield 8 17.13x
Rye 8 26.49x
St Andrewthe Less 8 5.87x
St George Hanover 8 3.25x
Staveley 8 15.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 114
Sarah 78
Elizabeth 62
Ann 38
Emily 33
Eliza 31
Emma 31
Jane 31
Annie 28
Alice 26
Ellen 22
Hannah 22
Martha 21
Louisa 19
Maria 16
Florence 14
Clara 13
Harriet 13
Edith 12
Margaret 12
Ada 11
Catherine 11
Charlotte 11
Agnes 10
Fanny 10
Kate 10
Anne 9
Susan 9
Amy 8
Caroline 8
Isabella 8
Lucy 8
Rose 8
Frances 7
Harriett 6
Lydia 6
Matilda 6
Sophia 6
Eleanor 5
Elizth. 5
Esther 5
Rebecca 5
Amelia 4
Betsy 4
Helen 4
Julia 4
Phoebe 4
Anna 3
Laura 3
Mildred 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 133
John 113
George 73
Thomas 62
James 58
Henry 47
Charles 36
Edward 26
Arthur 25
Joseph 23
Alfred 18
Walter 18
Robert 17
Frank 15
Frederick 14
Albert 12
Ernest 12
Harry 12
Samuel 12
Stephen 9
Richard 8
Edwin 6
Francis 6
Fred 6
Herbert 6
Geo. 5
Sidney 5
Wm. 5
Chas. 4
Daniel 4
David 4
Fredk. 4
Isaac 4
Tom 4
Leonard 3
Richd. 3
Sam 3
Thos. 3
Bernard 2
Christopher 2
Edwd. 2
Esau 2
Frances 2
Fredk 2
Hayer 2
Jesse 2
Lewis 2
Percy 2
Spencer 2
Sydney 2

FAQ

Whiteman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whiteman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,935 people were recorded with the Whiteman surname. That placed it at #2,255 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whiteman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,483 in 2016. That gives Whiteman a modern rank of #2,658.

What does the Whiteman surname mean?

A descriptive surname referring to a person with very pale skin or white hair.

What does the Whiteman map show?

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