NameCensus.

UK surname

Whitham

A locational surname referring to someone from Whitham or Whittingham.

In the 1881 census there were 1,743 people recorded with the Whitham surname, ranking it #2,480 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,879, ranked #3,385, down from #2,480 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Halifax and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield and Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whitham is 2,475 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.8%.

1881 census count

1,743

Ranked #2,480

Modern count

1,879

2016, ranked #3,385

Peak year

1911

2,475 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whitham had 1,743 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,480 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,879 in 2016, ranked #3,385.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,475 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Whitham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whitham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whitham 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 903 #3,047
1861 historical 1,352 #2,117
1881 historical 1,743 #2,480
1891 historical 1,962 #2,356
1901 historical 2,181 #2,469
1911 historical 2,475 #2,074
1997 modern 1,880 #3,207
1998 modern 1,969 #3,195
1999 modern 1,981 #3,202
2000 modern 1,966 #3,208
2001 modern 1,954 #3,167
2002 modern 2,002 #3,172
2003 modern 1,954 #3,179
2004 modern 1,961 #3,167
2005 modern 1,901 #3,214
2006 modern 1,904 #3,228
2007 modern 1,909 #3,245
2008 modern 1,902 #3,271
2009 modern 1,949 #3,288
2010 modern 1,971 #3,309
2011 modern 1,958 #3,293
2012 modern 1,880 #3,356
2013 modern 1,896 #3,388
2014 modern 1,901 #3,391
2015 modern 1,878 #3,395
2016 modern 1,879 #3,385

Geography

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Where Whithams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Halifax, Bradford, Sheffield and Guiseley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sheffield and Calderdale. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Guiseley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sheffield 056 Sheffield
2 Calderdale 013 Calderdale
3 Calderdale 022 Calderdale
4 Sheffield 004 Sheffield
5 Sheffield 002 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whitham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whitham

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Whitham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Whitham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Whitham 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

Whitham 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

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

Meaning and origin of Whitham

The surname Whitham traces its origins to England, with its earliest roots found in the medieval period. The name is of toponymic origin, deriving from locations in England named Witham, which can be found in several counties such as Essex, Lincolnshire, and Somerset. The name Witham itself is thought to be derived from Old English elements, specifically "widu," meaning "wood," and "ham," meaning "home" or "homestead." Thus, the name Whitham essentially means "home by the wood."

Historical references to the surname Whitham can be found in early English records. In the Domesday Book of 1086, an extensive survey ordered by William the Conqueror, there are mentions of the locations named Witham. This suggests that the people living in or around those areas would often take the name of the place as their surname, a common practice in medieval England.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Whitham is that of Robert de Witham, who appears in the Pipe Rolls of 1166 in Lincolnshire. This indicates that the name was already in use by the 12th century and associated with landholding families in the region. Another early instance includes John Whitham, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1297.

Sir Thomas Whitham, born around 1500, was a notable figure bearing this surname. He served as a knight and landowner during the reign of Henry VIII. His contributions to local governance and his landholdings have been well-documented in historical archives. Another significant individual was Henry Whitham, born in 1587, who served as a member of Parliament for Lancashire in the early 17th century.

Reverend John Whitham, born in 1726, was a prominent clergyman who contributed to religious life in Yorkshire. His sermons and religious texts were widely read and respected during his time. Mary Whitham, born in 1764, was known for her philanthropic work in Lancashire, contributing to educational and charitable causes in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

In summary, the Whitham surname has a rich history tied to English locations named Witham. It has appeared in various historical records and manuscripts dating from the 12th century. Notable individuals bearing the Whitham name have made significant contributions in fields such as governance, religion, and philanthropy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Whitham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whitham 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 978 Whithams recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.81x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 978 5.81x
Lancashire 482 2.39x
Middlesex 57 0.34x
Essex 55 1.64x
Norfolk 23 0.88x
Surrey 22 0.27x
Lincolnshire 19 0.70x
Cumberland 17 1.16x
Derbyshire 16 0.60x
Cheshire 15 0.40x
Durham 12 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 12 0.52x
Hampshire 8 0.23x
Northamptonshire 6 0.38x
Devon 5 0.14x
Glamorgan 4 0.14x
Lanarkshire 4 0.07x
Suffolk 2 0.10x
Berkshire 1 0.08x
Hertfordshire 1 0.09x
Kent 1 0.02x
Westmorland 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ecclesfield in Yorkshire leads with 99 Whithams recorded in 1881 and an index of 80.23x.

Place Total Index
Ecclesfield 99 80.23x
Horsforth 48 130.08x
Wardleworth 46 39.94x
Sheffield 40 7.47x
Ecclesall Bierlow 39 11.39x
Barnsley 35 20.16x
Stansfield 34 54.90x
West Ham 34 4.59x
Leeds 31 3.26x
Bramley In Bramley 29 45.02x
Nether Hallam 28 12.30x
Padiham 28 57.51x
Bingley 27 25.19x
Salford 27 4.56x
Brightside Bierlow 26 7.88x
Manningham 26 12.54x
Ovenden 26 34.71x
Castleton 25 12.42x
Heptonstall 25 105.89x
Burnley 22 12.96x
Headingley Cum Burley 22 20.31x
Oldham 22 3.38x
Haworth 21 52.50x
Langfield 19 64.54x
Ashton Under Lyne 18 4.09x
Colne 18 29.99x
Addingham 17 135.24x
Saddleworth 17 13.10x
Spotland 17 7.59x
Bradfield 16 24.66x
Heeley 16 31.29x
Bradford 15 3.68x
Carlton In Skipton 15 152.44x
Horton In Bradford 15 5.71x
Wadsworth 15 54.76x
Warrington 15 6.28x
Erringden 13 119.60x
Shoreditch London 12 1.63x
Armley 11 14.82x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 11 7.02x
Bradford 11 11.66x
Dodworth 11 62.93x
Killamarsh 11 66.51x
Southwark St George Martyr 11 3.22x
Cowling 10 91.66x
Newchurch 10 6.07x
Shipley 10 11.45x
West Derby 10 1.70x
Aylsham 9 57.88x
Bury 9 3.91x
Carnforth 9 81.30x
Hunslet 9 3.43x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 8 13.09x
Blatchinworth 8 17.43x
Eccleshill 8 19.53x
Goldshaw Booth 8 388.35x
Gorton 8 4.22x
Havant 8 45.38x
Hulme 8 1.90x
Manchester 8 0.88x
Mile End Old Town 8 2.98x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 8 10.23x
Wuerdle Wardle 8 13.08x
Conisbrough 7 44.33x
Layton With Warbreck 7 9.47x
Mexborough 7 20.96x
Scunthorpe 7 57.33x
Tottington Lower End 7 7.31x
Wakefield 7 5.42x
Westoe 7 2.44x
Barmbrough 6 97.40x
Cliviger 6 52.86x
Dacre 6 106.38x
Elland Cum Greetland 6 7.91x
Great Grimsby 6 3.48x
Great Little Marsden 6 6.50x
Habergham Eaves 6 3.26x
Otley 6 14.68x
Tasburgh 6 231.66x
Woodford 6 15.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 136
Sarah 96
Elizabeth 75
Ann 39
Annie 39
Emma 32
Eliza 26
Margaret 26
Hannah 25
Martha 25
Jane 22
Alice 21
Ellen 21
Emily 12
Ada 11
Clara 11
Maria 10
Charlotte 9
Florence 9
Edith 8
Grace 8
Harriet 8
Anne 7
Isabella 7
Matilda 7
Fanny 6
Lucy 6
Nancy 6
Rose 6
Amy 5
Betty 5
Harriett 5
Margret 5
Priscilla 5
Bertha 4
Louisa 4
Lydia 4
Rachel 4
Sophia 4
Susan 4
Susannah 4
Amelia 3
Betsy 3
Caroline 3
Laura 3
Mabel 3
Maud 3
Phoebe 3
Rebecca 3
Ruth 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 116
William 68
James 58
Thomas 51
George 48
Joseph 39
Robert 23
Samuel 23
Arthur 21
Benjamin 20
Henry 20
Alfred 19
Charles 18
Fred 18
Richard 16
Walter 16
Harry 12
Albert 11
Tom 10
Frank 8
Frederick 8
Edward 7
David 6
Herbert 6
Ben 5
Ernest 5
Isaac 5
Joshua 5
Edmund 4
Peter 4
Thos. 4
Wm. 4
Bernard 3
Fredk. 3
Jas. 3
Joe 3
Matthew 3
Sam 3
Squire 3
Willie 3
Adam 2
Christopher 2
Colin 2
Edwin 2
Geo. 2
Harold 2
Lawrence 2
Mark 2
Paul 2
Seth 2

FAQ

Whitham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whitham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,743 people were recorded with the Whitham surname. That placed it at #2,480 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whitham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,879 in 2016. That gives Whitham a modern rank of #3,385.

What does the Whitham surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Whitham or Whittingham.

What does the Whitham map show?

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