NameCensus.

UK surname

Whitford

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the various places named Whitford, meaning "white ford."

In the 1881 census there were 908 people recorded with the Whitford surname, ranking it #4,217 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,063, ranked #5,492, down from #4,217 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Phillack, London parishes and Gwennap. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whitford is 1,174 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.1%.

1881 census count

908

Ranked #4,217

Modern count

1,063

2016, ranked #5,492

Peak year

2000

1,174 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whitford had 908 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,217 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,063 in 2016, ranked #5,492.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,166 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Whitford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whitford surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Whitford 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 817 #3,294
1861 historical 788 #3,500
1881 historical 908 #4,217
1891 historical 979 #4,224
1901 historical 1,105 #4,368
1911 historical 1,166 #4,008
1997 modern 1,110 #5,032
1998 modern 1,157 #5,030
1999 modern 1,158 #5,077
2000 modern 1,174 #5,002
2001 modern 1,115 #5,107
2002 modern 1,110 #5,235
2003 modern 1,083 #5,250
2004 modern 1,067 #5,317
2005 modern 1,047 #5,347
2006 modern 1,066 #5,265
2007 modern 1,070 #5,302
2008 modern 1,090 #5,259
2009 modern 1,114 #5,265
2010 modern 1,132 #5,303
2011 modern 1,107 #5,342
2012 modern 1,071 #5,404
2013 modern 1,118 #5,302
2014 modern 1,105 #5,375
2015 modern 1,079 #5,438
2016 modern 1,063 #5,492

Geography

Back to top

Where Whitfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Phillack, London parishes, Gwennap, Kenwyn, Tregavethan and Liskeard, St Cleer. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 Phillack Cornwall
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gwennap Cornwall
4 Kenwyn, Tregavethan Cornwall
5 Liskeard, St Cleer Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 047 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 024 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 030 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 039 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 042 Cornwall

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Whitford

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Whitford

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

Whitford 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

Whitford falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Whitford

The surname Whitford has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the place name Whitford, which itself is a combination of the Old English words "hwit" meaning white and "ford" meaning a shallow river crossing.

The earliest known record of the name Whitford can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. It mentions a person named Radulfus de Whitford, who held lands in the county of Devon.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as Whyteford, Whytford, and Whitforde, reflecting the variations in spelling common at the time. One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Whitford (c. 1420-1492), a English knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses.

In the 16th century, the name was also found in Scotland, with records showing a William Whitford who was a merchant in Edinburgh in the year 1557. Around the same time, a Thomas Whitford (c. 1530-1596) was a prominent English Catholic theologian and writer.

During the 17th century, the name Whitford spread to Ireland, where it is believed to have been introduced by English settlers. One notable Irish bearer of the name was Edward Whitford (1679-1753), a landowner and Member of Parliament for County Leitrim.

In the 18th century, the name gained prominence in America, with John Whitford (1725-1801) being a Revolutionary War soldier from Massachusetts. Another notable American was Elijah Whitford (1767-1846), a prominent lawyer and judge in Ohio.

Other notable individuals with the surname Whitford include the English author and playwright James Whitford (1866-1948), the Canadian politician and diplomat Charles Whitford (1905-1985), and the American actress and singer Brandy Whitford (born 1987).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Whitford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whitford 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. Cornwall leads with 408 Whitfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.51x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 408 39.51x
Middlesex 99 1.09x
Lancashire 51 0.47x
Devon 41 2.16x
Gloucestershire 39 2.18x
Yorkshire 34 0.38x
Worcestershire 29 2.43x
Hampshire 24 1.28x
Channel Islands 23 8.51x
Surrey 22 0.50x
Northumberland 21 1.55x
Warwickshire 16 0.70x
Staffordshire 13 0.42x
Kent 12 0.39x
Renfrewshire 12 1.70x
Cheshire 9 0.45x
Cumberland 9 1.15x
Glamorgan 8 0.50x
Northamptonshire 8 0.93x
Shropshire 8 1.02x
Brecknockshire 5 2.74x
Lincolnshire 5 0.34x
Merionethshire 5 3.00x
Denbighshire 4 1.16x
Oxfordshire 4 0.71x
Sussex 4 0.26x
Midlothian 3 0.25x
Norfolk 3 0.21x
Royal Navy 3 2.76x
Durham 2 0.07x
Lanarkshire 2 0.07x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.27x
Derbyshire 1 0.07x
Essex 1 0.06x
Herefordshire 1 0.27x
Leicestershire 1 0.10x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.35x
Suffolk 1 0.09x
Wigtownshire 1 0.83x
Wiltshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kenwyn in Cornwall leads with 65 Whitfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 240.74x.

Place Total Index
Kenwyn 65 240.74x
Gwennap 45 231.01x
Falmouth 23 62.93x
Redruth 23 78.74x
St Peter Port 23 46.00x
Phillack 20 150.04x
Calstock 18 88.89x
Illogan 18 65.84x
Stoke Damerel 18 13.55x
St Agnes 17 117.57x
St Stephen In Brannel 17 180.47x
Veryan 17 425.00x
Kea 16 207.79x
Leeds 14 2.74x
Creed Grampound 13 1040.00x
St Columb Major 12 140.02x
Burslem 11 12.47x
Southampton St Mary 11 9.36x
St Just In Roseland 11 243.36x
Dudley 10 6.91x
St Marylebone London 10 2.05x
Abbey 9 8.34x
Birkenhead 9 5.61x
Mevagissey 9 131.20x
Skipton 9 31.65x
St Cleer 9 100.56x
Bury 8 6.47x
Kensington London 8 1.58x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 8 91.95x
St Mary Magdalene 8 105.40x
Swansea Town 8 6.14x
Winchcomb 8 90.09x
Camborne 7 16.45x
Everton 7 2.03x
Gillingham 7 10.91x
Islington London 7 0.79x
Kirkdale 7 3.84x
Lambeth 7 0.88x
Limehouse London 7 6.99x
Moreton In Marsh 7 156.25x
Sherborne 7 391.06x
Shoreditch London 7 1.77x
Southampton St John 7 366.49x
Bitton Oldland 6 32.80x
Bretforton 6 340.91x
Clerkenwell London 6 2.79x
Coulsdon 6 74.26x
Dallington 6 119.05x
Great Little Preston 6 231.66x
Lezant 6 259.74x
Liskeard 6 34.72x
Moss Side 6 10.54x
St Pancras London 6 0.82x
Worcester All Sts 6 86.96x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.26x
Cramlington 5 27.89x
Hackney London 5 0.98x
Leamington Priors 5 8.83x
Liverpool 5 0.76x
Llanfihangel Y Traethau 5 52.69x
Llangattock 5 33.67x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 3.42x
Probus 5 118.20x
Saltash 5 62.42x
St Erth 5 79.87x
St Martin In Fields 5 9.16x
Stallingborough 5 331.13x
Tormoham 5 6.22x
Alcester 4 52.70x
Birmingham 4 0.52x
Edmonton 4 5.44x
Feckenham 4 29.35x
Fulham London 4 3.02x
Gwinear 4 81.63x
Llanrwst 4 33.53x
Paignton 4 27.68x
St Cuthbert W O 4 10.45x
St Erme 4 253.16x
St George Hanover 4 3.36x
St George In East 4 6.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 70
William 64
Thomas 30
James 24
Richard 24
George 19
Joseph 18
Henry 17
Charles 16
Alfred 9
Edward 9
Arthur 7
Frederick 7
Samuel 7
Francis 6
Frank 6
Robert 6
Mark 5
Harry 4
Stephen 4
Thos. 4
Albert 3
Martin 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Alexander 2
Earnest 2
Edwin 2
Emmanuel 2
Fred. 2
Herbert 2
Jeremiah 2
Joel 2
Matthew 2
Nicholas 2
Peter 2
Philip 2
Silas 2
Simon 2
Willm. 2
Archabald 1
Charlotte 1
Christopher 1
Edmund 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
Geo. 1
Lewis 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Whitford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whitford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 908 people were recorded with the Whitford surname. That placed it at #4,217 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whitford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,063 in 2016. That gives Whitford a modern rank of #5,492.

What does the Whitford surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the various places named Whitford, meaning "white ford."

What does the Whitford map show?

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