NameCensus.

UK surname

Whittaker

An occupational surname referring to a white taker or dresser of light-colored cloth.

In the 1881 census there were 14,193 people recorded with the Whittaker surname, ranking it #286 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16,934, ranked #369, down from #286 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Manchester and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Burnley, Rossendale and Hyndburn.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whittaker is 18,741 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.3%.

1881 census count

14,193

Ranked #286

Modern count

16,934

2016, ranked #369

Peak year

1911

18,741 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whittaker had 14,193 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #286 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 16,934 in 2016, ranked #369.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 18,741 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Whittaker surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whittaker surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whittaker 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 6,291 #439
1861 historical 7,761 #358
1881 historical 14,193 #286
1891 historical 15,853 #268
1901 historical 18,066 #279
1911 historical 18,741 #248
1997 modern 17,052 #346
1998 modern 17,636 #349
1999 modern 17,734 #349
2000 modern 17,577 #354
2001 modern 17,196 #353
2002 modern 17,526 #353
2003 modern 17,064 #355
2004 modern 16,999 #356
2005 modern 16,691 #354
2006 modern 16,555 #359
2007 modern 16,618 #361
2008 modern 16,687 #361
2009 modern 16,947 #367
2010 modern 17,236 #368
2011 modern 16,928 #371
2012 modern 16,622 #370
2013 modern 17,179 #367
2014 modern 17,266 #368
2015 modern 17,066 #369
2016 modern 16,934 #369

Geography

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Where Whittakers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Manchester, Blackburn, Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) and Whalley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Burnley, Rossendale and Hyndburn. 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 Manchester Lancashire
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire
5 Whalley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Burnley 010 Burnley
2 Rossendale 002 Rossendale
3 Burnley 004 Burnley
4 Burnley 007 Burnley
5 Hyndburn 008 Hyndburn

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whittaker

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whittaker

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

Whittaker is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Whittaker

The surname Whittaker has its origins in England and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "hwit" meaning white and "taquere" meaning a fuller of cloth. Together, "hwittaquere" referred to someone who worked as a whitener or fuller of cloth, an essential occupation in medieval times.

The name is first recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1191, where it appears as "Whitteakere". This early spelling variation highlights the localized nature of surnames in that era, with regional dialects and spelling conventions influencing how names were written down.

As the surname evolved, it became associated with certain areas of northern England, particularly Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire. This geographic concentration is reflected in the appearance of Whittakers in various historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332, which list several individuals with the surname.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name is found in the Chorley Parish Registers of Lancashire, which record the baptism of a John Whittaker in 1558. This entry provides evidence of the surname's establishment in the region by the 16th century.

Whittaker has also been linked to several place names in northern England, including Whittaker in Lancashire and Whittakers in Yorkshire. These locations may have derived their names from the surname or vice versa, further cementing the connection between the name and the local geography.

Several notable individuals have borne the surname Whittaker throughout history. One such figure is Sir Richard Whittaker (1618-1689), an English judge and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Aylesbury in the 17th century.

Another prominent Whittaker was Thomas Whittaker (1776-1840), an English botanist and curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Chelsea, London. His contributions to the study of plants and their classification were significant during his lifetime.

In the field of literature, John Whittaker (1777-1846) was an English writer and editor who published works on various subjects, including history, theology, and politics.

The name Whittaker has also been associated with sports. In the early 20th century, Walter Whittaker (1876-1944) was an English professional footballer who played for clubs like Manchester City and Birmingham City.

More recently, Robert Whittaker (born 1990) is a New Zealand-born Australian professional mixed martial artist who has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and held the UFC Interim Middleweight Championship.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Whittaker families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whittaker 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. Lancashire leads with 8,043 Whittakers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.90x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 8,043 4.90x
Yorkshire 1,546 1.13x
Cheshire 897 2.94x
Staffordshire 640 1.37x
Derbyshire 341 1.57x
Middlesex 341 0.25x
Nottinghamshire 299 1.60x
Warwickshire 169 0.48x
Lincolnshire 168 0.76x
Durham 160 0.39x
Kent 154 0.33x
Surrey 143 0.21x
Essex 129 0.47x
Worcestershire 109 0.60x
Shropshire 94 0.79x
Leicestershire 90 0.59x
Norfolk 88 0.41x
Somerset 77 0.35x
Gloucestershire 61 0.22x
Hampshire 59 0.21x
Northumberland 53 0.26x
Cumberland 49 0.41x
Lanarkshire 39 0.09x
Devon 34 0.12x
Glamorgan 34 0.14x
Monmouthshire 31 0.31x
Hertfordshire 30 0.31x
Midlothian 29 0.16x
Cambridgeshire 24 0.27x
Herefordshire 24 0.42x
Montgomeryshire 23 0.73x
Sussex 23 0.10x
Dorset 19 0.21x
Cornwall 17 0.11x
Northamptonshire 16 0.12x
Wiltshire 13 0.11x
Bedfordshire 12 0.17x
Berkshire 12 0.12x
Berwickshire 12 0.72x
Suffolk 12 0.07x
Isle of Man 8 0.31x
Kincardineshire 8 0.47x
Kinross-shire 6 1.72x
Angus 5 0.04x
Radnorshire 5 0.45x
Renfrewshire 5 0.05x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.05x
Fife 4 0.05x
Denbighshire 3 0.06x
Flintshire 3 0.08x
Royal Navy 3 0.18x
Channel Islands 2 0.05x
Oxfordshire 2 0.02x
Ross-shire 2 0.05x
Stirlingshire 2 0.04x
Westmorland 2 0.07x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.02x
Peeblesshire 1 0.15x
Rutland 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 493 Whittakers recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.31x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 493 9.31x
Accrington 474 31.76x
Blackburn 383 8.77x
Manchester 335 4.54x
Newchurch 243 18.10x
Bury 219 11.68x
Salford 194 4.02x
Habergham Eaves 191 12.73x
Haslingden 168 24.72x
Over Darwen 168 12.81x
Ashton Under Lyne 150 4.18x
Burnley 148 10.71x
Tottington Lower End 134 17.18x
Warrington 127 6.53x
Hulme 123 3.59x
Failsworth 116 30.89x
Stoke Upon Trent 116 2.34x
Heap 111 12.75x
Lower Booths 107 36.38x
Tottington Higher End 104 55.66x
Clitheroe 103 21.32x
Padiham 103 25.97x
Royton 103 20.51x
Pendleton In Salford 99 5.06x
Chadderton 98 12.21x
Clayton Le Moors 98 30.77x
Church 96 41.42x
Macclesfield 94 6.93x
Elton 93 16.40x
Preston 87 1.98x
Colne 86 17.59x
Spotland 84 4.60x
Higher Booths 80 27.04x
Newcastle Under Lyme 80 9.68x
Newton 79 6.24x
Liverpool 78 0.78x
Oswaldtwistle 77 13.28x
Leeds 74 0.96x
Aston 73 0.76x
Great Little Marsden 72 9.58x
Dukinfield 68 4.82x
Farnworth 67 6.81x
Cheetham 65 5.31x
Chorley 65 7.06x
Nottingham St Mary 65 1.35x
Radcliffe 65 8.21x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 64 36.49x
Great Bolton 64 2.94x
Stockport 63 4.01x
Hunslet 58 2.71x
Rishton 58 30.12x
Bradford 56 1.69x
Barton Upon Irwell 55 4.45x
Holy Trinity 55 1.67x
Saddleworth 55 5.20x
Chorlton On Medlock 54 2.07x
Birmingham 53 0.46x
Bradford 53 6.90x
Walmersley Cum 52 19.83x
Little Bolton 51 2.42x
Tonge 51 14.81x
West Derby 50 1.04x
Broughton In Salford 48 3.20x
Layton With Warbreck 48 7.97x
Ardwick 47 3.17x
Disley Stanley 45 28.62x
St Marylebone London 45 0.61x
Stretford 44 4.87x
Castleton 42 2.56x
Hyde 41 4.55x
Blackley 40 13.90x
Butterworth 40 10.00x
Aspull 39 10.10x
Islington London 39 0.29x
Litchurch 39 4.47x
Blatchinworth 38 10.17x
St Pancras London 38 0.34x
Burntwood Edial 37 12.40x
Middleton In Oldham 37 7.52x
Worsley 36 3.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1,144
Elizabeth 642
Sarah 585
Ann 328
Alice 318
Jane 295
Ellen 231
Hannah 217
Margaret 213
Martha 196
Annie 174
Eliza 167
Emma 157
Emily 95
Clara 81
Ada 79
Harriet 76
Edith 69
Maria 68
Betty 63
Fanny 60
Florence 54
Betsy 50
Nancy 49
Susannah 49
Caroline 48
Lucy 47
Charlotte 45
Esther 45
Frances 44
Louisa 44
Agnes 42
Isabella 42
Rachel 41
Catherine 38
Elizth. 34
Anne 32
Bertha 32
Rebecca 32
Grace 29
Kate 28
Amelia 27
Susan 26
Matilda 25
Rose 25
Harriett 24
Amy 21
Lydia 21
Ethel 20
Julia 19

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 1,031
William 711
James 658
Thomas 488
George 382
Joseph 285
Henry 227
Robert 227
Charles 176
Richard 151
Samuel 130
Edward 107
Alfred 98
Arthur 97
Harry 79
Frederick 76
Walter 72
Albert 58
Herbert 56
Benjamin 54
Fred 47
David 46
Wm. 46
Frank 44
Thos. 43
Edmund 38
Abraham 36
Edwin 34
Ernest 33
Peter 31
Isaac 30
Geo. 28
Lawrence 24
Jonathan 23
Francis 19
Joshua 19
Robt. 19
Jas. 18
Daniel 17
Tom 17
Christopher 16
Ralph 16
Saml. 15
Andrew 14
Fredrick 13
Jno. 13
Mark 13
Matthew 13
Fredk. 12
Ellis 11

FAQ

Whittaker surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whittaker surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14,193 people were recorded with the Whittaker surname. That placed it at #286 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whittaker surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 16,934 in 2016. That gives Whittaker a modern rank of #369.

What does the Whittaker surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a white taker or dresser of light-colored cloth.

What does the Whittaker map show?

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