NameCensus.

UK surname

Whitlow

An English topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a white mound or burial ground.

In the 1881 census there were 366 people recorded with the Whitlow surname, ranking it #8,490 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 341, ranked #13,425, down from #8,490 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Davenham and Clifton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Halton, Warrington and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whitlow is 486 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.8%.

1881 census count

366

Ranked #8,490

Modern count

341

2016, ranked #13,425

Peak year

1901

486 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whitlow had 366 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,490 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 341 in 2016, ranked #13,425.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 486 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Whitlow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whitlow surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whitlow 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 202 #10,323
1861 historical 139 #16,263
1881 historical 366 #8,490
1891 historical 360 #9,614
1901 historical 486 #8,224
1911 historical 475 #8,144
1997 modern 436 #10,327
1998 modern 440 #10,581
1999 modern 434 #10,784
2000 modern 431 #10,785
2001 modern 414 #10,942
2002 modern 426 #10,918
2003 modern 407 #11,136
2004 modern 390 #11,495
2005 modern 397 #11,250
2006 modern 409 #11,032
2007 modern 400 #11,374
2008 modern 390 #11,693
2009 modern 392 #11,908
2010 modern 387 #12,301
2011 modern 374 #12,464
2012 modern 357 #12,757
2013 modern 355 #13,045
2014 modern 358 #13,045
2015 modern 349 #13,189
2016 modern 341 #13,425

Geography

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Where Whitlows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Davenham, Clifton, Manchester and Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Halton, Warrington, South Gloucestershire and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Davenham Cheshire
3 Clifton Gloucestershire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich) Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Halton 009 Halton
2 Halton 012 Halton
3 Warrington 017 Warrington
4 South Gloucestershire 006 South Gloucestershire
5 Cheshire West and Chester 026 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whitlow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whitlow

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Whitlow, 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 Whitlow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Whitlow 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Whitlow is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Whitlow is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Whitlow 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 Whitlow is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Whitlow

The surname "Whitlow" is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is thought to derive from the Old English words "hwit" meaning white, and "hlaw" meaning a small hill or mound. Thus, the name Whitlow likely referred to someone who lived near a white hill or mound.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Witlau" and "Witlowe." This suggests that the name had already been in use for some time before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Over the centuries, various spellings emerged, including Whitlaw, Whitloe, and Whitelow, before settling on the modern form of Whitlow.

In the 13th century, records show a John de Whitelow living in Lancashire, indicating that the name had taken on a locational prefix by that time. Another early bearer of the name was William Whitlow, who was born in Yorkshire around 1450 and served as a soldier during the Wars of the Roses.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Whitlow family spread across various parts of England, with notable members including Richard Whitlow (1560-1629), a wealthy merchant from London, and Thomas Whitlow (1610-1685), a Puritan minister who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1630s.

In the 18th century, the name gained prominence with the life of John Whitlow (1720-1798), a renowned clockmaker from Cheshire. His exquisitely crafted timepieces were highly sought after by wealthy patrons across Europe. Another notable figure was Sarah Whitlow (1760-1842), a philanthropist from Yorkshire who founded several schools and hospitals for the underprivileged.

As the Industrial Revolution took hold in the 19th century, many Whitlows found employment in the flourishing textile mills and factories of northern England. One such person was James Whitlow (1825-1901), a skilled weaver from Lancashire who became a prominent figure in the local trade union movement.

While the Whitlow name has its roots firmly planted in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration. Bearers of this surname can be found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, reflecting the historical movement of people from the British Isles.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Whitlow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whitlow 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. Cheshire leads with 194 Whitlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.62x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 194 24.62x
Lancashire 115 2.71x
Yorkshire 14 0.40x
Gloucestershire 12 1.71x
Staffordshire 7 0.58x
Surrey 7 0.40x
Middlesex 6 0.17x
Cumberland 3 0.98x
Somerset 3 0.52x
Montgomeryshire 2 2.44x
Angus 1 0.30x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.46x
Devon 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. Appleton in Cheshire leads with 18 Whitlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 1005.59x.

Place Total Index
Appleton 18 1005.59x
Great Boughton 17 625.00x
Moulton Eaton In 16 2424.24x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 15 213.98x
Broughton In Salford 13 33.56x
Over 13 162.30x
Everton 12 8.89x
West Derby 12 9.68x
Castleton 11 26.00x
Clifton 11 31.07x
Salford 11 8.83x
Liverpool 10 3.89x
Preston On Hill 9 1304.35x
Clive 8 4000.00x
Davenham 8 1111.11x
Frodsham 8 262.30x
High Leigh 8 769.23x
Thelwall 7 1147.54x
Ardwick 6 15.70x
Croydon 6 6.21x
Halton 6 340.91x
St Bride London 6 288.46x
Colne 5 39.62x
Crowley 5 2083.33x
Hatton In Runcorn 5 1111.11x
Hoole 5 167.79x
Lymm 5 87.26x
Marton In Whitegate 5 588.24x
Runcorn 5 27.52x
Idle 4 24.39x
Oldham 4 2.93x
Wakefield 4 14.73x
Bedminster 3 5.56x
Chester St Oswald 3 21.02x
Eccleshill 3 326.09x
Garston 3 24.00x
Lower Whitley 3 1153.85x
St Cuthbert Within 3 84.27x
Toxteth Park 3 2.09x
Warrington 3 5.97x
Wolstanton Knutton 3 40.76x
Ackworth 2 73.53x
Chester St Mary On Hill 2 29.59x
Gorton 2 5.02x
Great Crosby 2 17.32x
Haslington 2 90.09x
Heaton Norris 2 8.30x
Leeds 2 1.00x
Leftwich 2 57.14x
Macclesfield 2 5.71x
Manley 2 526.32x
Middlewich 2 123.46x
North Meols 2 4.82x
Pool 2 32.41x
Walton On Hill 2 8.71x
Wednesbury 2 6.64x
Weston In Runcorn 2 97.56x
Wharton 2 46.62x
Arbroath 1 9.12x
Aylesbury 1 10.46x
Blackburn 1 0.89x
Castle Northwich 1 38.31x
Cleckheaton 1 7.67x
Conisbrough 1 30.12x
Hale 1 36.76x
Heap 1 4.45x
Hulme 1 1.13x
Lancaster 1 3.97x
Latchford 1 19.08x
Minshull Vernon 1 250.00x
Monks Coppenhall 1 3.36x
Moss Side 1 4.49x
Norton 1 238.10x
Over Darwen 1 2.96x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.75x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 0.78x
Sutton In Macclesfield 1 12.22x
Tranmere 1 3.45x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 1 8.20x
Woking 1 9.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 29
William 19
Joseph 12
Thomas 12
James 11
George 9
Henry 9
Edward 7
Harry 6
Samuel 6
Charles 5
Frank 4
Richard 4
Abraham 3
Arthur 3
Fred 3
Robert 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Ernest 2
Wm. 2
Anthony 1
Barrington 1
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
Carl 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Francis 1
Fred. 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Joshua 1
Kish 1
Leonard 1
Lindock 1
Maurice 1
Peter 1
Stephan 1
Stephen 1
Thos.A. 1
Tom 1
Wilfred 1
Wm.T. 1

FAQ

Whitlow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whitlow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 366 people were recorded with the Whitlow surname. That placed it at #8,490 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whitlow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 341 in 2016. That gives Whitlow a modern rank of #13,425.

What does the Whitlow surname mean?

An English topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a white mound or burial ground.

What does the Whitlow map show?

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