NameCensus.

UK surname

Whitfield

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a white field or meadow.

In the 1881 census there were 5,983 people recorded with the Whitfield surname, ranking it #736 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,656, ranked #764, down from #736 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Allendale and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Halton, Warrington and St. Helens.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whitfield is 9,053 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.7%.

1881 census count

5,983

Ranked #736

Modern count

8,656

2016, ranked #764

Peak year

1999

9,053 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whitfield had 5,983 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #736 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,656 in 2016, ranked #764.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8,416 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Whitfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whitfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whitfield 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 3,961 #721
1861 historical 4,061 #689
1881 historical 5,983 #736
1891 historical 6,732 #679
1901 historical 7,830 #683
1911 historical 8,416 #593
1997 modern 8,608 #731
1998 modern 8,989 #728
1999 modern 9,053 #730
2000 modern 9,022 #731
2001 modern 8,842 #729
2002 modern 8,968 #735
2003 modern 8,704 #738
2004 modern 8,748 #740
2005 modern 8,608 #740
2006 modern 8,585 #743
2007 modern 8,621 #745
2008 modern 8,670 #745
2009 modern 8,874 #748
2010 modern 9,034 #748
2011 modern 8,905 #747
2012 modern 8,706 #749
2013 modern 8,835 #750
2014 modern 8,858 #752
2015 modern 8,741 #755
2016 modern 8,656 #764

Geography

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Where Whitfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Allendale, London parishes, Gateshead and Ryton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Halton, Warrington, St. Helens and County Durham. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Allendale Northumberland
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Ryton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Halton 004 Halton
2 Halton 003 Halton
3 Warrington 018 Warrington
4 St. Helens 005 St. Helens
5 County Durham 045 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whitfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whitfield

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Whitfield is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Whitfield is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Whitfield 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 Whitfield 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 Whitfield, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Whitfield

The surname Whitfield has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is a locational name derived from various places called Whitfield, which were scattered across England. The prefix "Whit" likely comes from the Old English word "hwit," meaning white, while the suffix "field" refers to an open area of land.

One of the earliest known references to the name Whitfield can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, which mentions a person named Henry de Whitefeld. In the late 13th century, the Whitfield surname also appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England compiled in 1086, does not contain the exact spelling of Whitfield, but it does include similar place names like "Hwitfeld" and "Witfeld," which likely contributed to the eventual formation of the surname.

In the 14th century, the Whitfield name became more widespread, with records showing various spellings such as Whitefeld, Whytfeld, and Whitfelde. One notable individual from this period was John de Whitefeld, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1384.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Whitfield surname continued to gain prominence. Sir Walter Whitfield (c. 1530-1594) was an English politician and Member of Parliament for Guildford. Another notable figure was Ralph Whitfield (c. 1610-1675), an English Puritan clergyman and author.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Whitfield name spread further across England and beyond. George Whitfield (1714-1770) was an influential Anglican cleric and evangelist who played a pivotal role in the Methodist movement. Sir Henry Whitfield (1785-1866) was a British naval officer and explorer who charted parts of the Australian coastline.

Other notable individuals with the Whitfield surname include Robert Whitfield (1828-1909), an English-born Australian politician and merchant, and James Whitfield (1770-1819), an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Kentucky.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Whitfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whitfield 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. Durham leads with 1,023 Whitfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.89x.

County Total Index
Durham 1,023 5.89x
Yorkshire 971 1.68x
Lancashire 943 1.36x
Northumberland 398 4.58x
Middlesex 329 0.56x
Shropshire 255 5.06x
Staffordshire 195 0.99x
Cumberland 193 3.84x
Cheshire 184 1.43x
Hampshire 170 1.42x
Warwickshire 152 1.03x
Surrey 140 0.49x
Berkshire 107 2.44x
Gloucestershire 86 0.75x
Devon 85 0.70x
Derbyshire 66 0.72x
Kent 54 0.27x
Essex 49 0.43x
Lincolnshire 46 0.49x
Northamptonshire 45 0.82x
Flintshire 38 2.42x
Bedfordshire 37 1.22x
Sussex 36 0.37x
Westmorland 30 2.34x
Worcestershire 29 0.38x
Cambridgeshire 26 0.70x
Oxfordshire 23 0.64x
Somerset 22 0.23x
Lanarkshire 21 0.11x
Wiltshire 21 0.41x
Norfolk 20 0.22x
West Lothian 20 2.28x
Monmouthshire 18 0.43x
Cornwall 16 0.24x
Montgomeryshire 13 0.97x
Buckinghamshire 12 0.34x
Nottinghamshire 12 0.15x
Dorset 11 0.29x
Glamorgan 11 0.11x
Leicestershire 9 0.14x
Midlothian 9 0.12x
Brecknockshire 8 0.69x
Dumfriesshire 8 0.62x
Perthshire 8 0.31x
Denbighshire 7 0.32x
Dunbartonshire 7 0.45x
Ayrshire 4 0.09x
Pembrokeshire 4 0.22x
Royal Navy 4 0.58x
Hertfordshire 2 0.05x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.02x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.04x
East Lothian 1 0.13x
Isle of Man 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. Widnes in Lancashire leads with 105 Whitfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.03x.

Place Total Index
Widnes 105 21.03x
Winlaton 89 53.45x
Warrington 78 9.50x
Gateshead 74 5.69x
Barton Upon Irwell 69 13.24x
Idle 62 23.13x
Shipley 61 20.33x
Birmingham 59 1.20x
Bold 57 331.78x
Elswick 57 8.23x
Bishopwearmouth 55 3.69x
Tanfield 51 24.71x
Southampton St Mary 49 6.52x
Westoe 49 4.98x
Aston 42 1.04x
Liverpool 42 1.00x
West Derby 42 2.07x
Alston 41 44.29x
Wolsingham 41 25.92x
Allendale 40 49.70x
Keighley 40 6.49x
Darlington 39 5.82x
Lambeth 39 0.77x
Sutton 39 16.80x
Killamarsh 37 65.12x
Leeds 37 1.13x
Medomsley 37 45.70x
Brightside Bierlow 34 3.00x
Crook Billy Row 33 14.85x
Middlesbrough 33 4.38x
Scarborough 33 6.28x
Stockton On Tees 32 3.82x
Wetherby 31 82.29x
Edgbaston 30 6.58x
Edgmond 30 54.07x
St Pancras London 29 0.62x
Oswestry Town 27 16.73x
Whickham 27 16.91x
Everton 26 1.18x
Muker 26 155.50x
Sculcoates 26 2.84x
Stoke Damerel 26 3.06x
Stoke Upon Trent 26 1.24x
Toxteth Park 26 1.11x
Garston 25 12.24x
Hackney London 25 0.76x
Monkwearmouth Shore 25 7.38x
Poplar London 25 2.27x
Potton 25 62.34x
Byker 24 5.59x
Holy Trinity 24 1.73x
Lambley 24 167.13x
Prudhoe 24 39.74x
Wolstanton 24 4.01x
Haydock 23 19.28x
Islington London 23 0.41x
Longbenton 23 6.26x
Bedlington 22 7.59x
Ellesmere 22 25.42x
Stanhope 22 12.28x
Wisbech St Mary 22 51.86x
Caldewgate 21 7.63x
Hulme 21 1.45x
Kirkdale 21 1.80x
Shoreditch London 21 0.83x
St Marylebone London 21 0.67x
Baildon 20 18.37x
Ford 20 38.45x
Battersea 19 0.89x
Chirton 19 9.67x
Hetton Le Hole 19 8.64x
Stanford In Vale 19 109.20x
Whitburn 19 14.97x
Lymm 18 19.22x
Walthamstow 18 4.34x
Broughton In Salford 17 2.69x
Huyton With Roby 17 20.96x
Tottenham 17 1.83x
West Ham 17 0.67x
Westgate 17 3.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 493
Elizabeth 248
Sarah 232
Jane 164
Ann 127
Margaret 119
Annie 87
Hannah 82
Alice 74
Ellen 73
Emma 67
Eliza 65
Isabella 56
Emily 55
Martha 48
Florence 41
Maria 39
Edith 31
Ada 27
Charlotte 27
Louisa 27
Catherine 25
Fanny 25
Harriet 25
Kate 25
Lucy 20
Anne 19
Frances 19
Clara 18
Esther 18
Rebecca 18
Agnes 17
Caroline 14
Jessie 14
Eleanor 12
Laura 12
Matilda 12
Gertrude 11
Minnie 11
Dorothy 10
Ethel 10
Grace 10
Susan 10
Elizth. 9
Lydia 9
Rachel 9
Rose 9
Ruth 9
Amelia 8
Lizzie 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 446
William 353
Thomas 279
George 264
James 154
Joseph 132
Henry 110
Robert 110
Charles 83
Edward 71
Richard 60
Samuel 54
Alfred 50
Arthur 35
Frederick 34
Albert 30
Matthew 27
Walter 26
Harry 23
Edwin 22
Thos. 21
Ralph 20
Ernest 19
Joshua 18
David 17
Francis 17
Herbert 17
Frank 15
Wm. 14
Peter 13
Christopher 12
Jacob 11
Geo. 10
Benjamin 9
Tom 9
Nicholas 7
Robt. 7
Andrew 6
Fred 6
Isaac 6
Jas. 6
Job 6
Jonathan 6
Fredrick 5
Hugh 5
Wesley 5
Harold 4
Henderson 4
Michael 4
Miles 4

FAQ

Whitfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whitfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,983 people were recorded with the Whitfield surname. That placed it at #736 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whitfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,656 in 2016. That gives Whitfield a modern rank of #764.

What does the Whitfield surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a white field or meadow.

What does the Whitfield map show?

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