UK surname
A locational surname originating in England, derived from a place name.
In the 1881 census there were 54 people recorded with the Whittamore surname, ranking it #26,009 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 51, ranked #34,838, down from #26,009 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kempston, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Eynesbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whittamore is 102 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 5.6%.
1881 census count
54
Ranked #26,009
Modern count
51
2016, ranked #34,838
Peak year
1901
102 bearers
Map years
1
1901 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Whittamore surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Whittamore surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 85 | #18,940 |
| 1861 | historical | 39 | #29,099 |
| 1881 | historical | 54 | #26,009 |
| 1891 | historical | 87 | #25,802 |
| 1901 | historical | 102 | #22,596 |
| 1911 | historical | 90 | #23,797 |
| 1997 | modern | 62 | #31,412 |
| 1998 | modern | 62 | #31,735 |
| 1999 | modern | 67 | #31,409 |
| 2000 | modern | 60 | #32,124 |
| 2001 | modern | 60 | #31,985 |
| 2002 | modern | 53 | #33,021 |
| 2003 | modern | 50 | #33,362 |
| 2004 | modern | 52 | #33,418 |
| 2005 | modern | 45 | #34,160 |
| 2006 | modern | 45 | #34,491 |
| 2007 | modern | 48 | #34,488 |
| 2008 | modern | 48 | #34,629 |
| 2009 | modern | 49 | #34,728 |
| 2010 | modern | 50 | #34,833 |
| 2011 | modern | 54 | #34,563 |
| 2012 | modern | 49 | #34,873 |
| 2013 | modern | 50 | #34,891 |
| 2014 | modern | 51 | #34,865 |
| 2015 | modern | 50 | #34,886 |
| 2016 | modern | 51 | #34,838 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kempston, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Eynesbury, Campton with Shefford, Shefford Hardwick, Chicksands and Hitchin. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kempston | Bedfordshire |
| 2 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 3 | Eynesbury | Huntingdonshire |
| 4 | Campton with Shefford, Shefford Hardwick, Chicksands | Bedfordshire |
| 5 | Hitchin | Hertfordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Whittamore surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Whittamore, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Whittamore surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Whittamore household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Whittamore is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Whittamore is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Whittamore, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Whittamore is of English origin, emerging from the medieval period in the regions of England. The name is believed to have originated around the 12th century, predominantly in rural counties such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. This surname is derived from the Old English words "hwita," meaning white, and "mor," meaning moor or marsh, collectively signifying "white moor," possibly describing someone who lived near such a landscape.
Historical records show variations in the spelling of the surname, including Whytmor, Whitmore, and Whittemore. One of the oldest references appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where similar names are recorded as landowners and tenants. An early recorded example is Thomas of Whytmor, noted in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1199, indicating the name had begun to solidify by the late 12th century.
In the early 13th century, Reginald de Whytmor is another example from the Yorkshire tax subsidies of 1219. His role as a local landowner underscores the name's status and socio-economic standing in medieval society. This lineage continued with Richard Whittamore, recorded in the Feet of Fines for Dorset in 1306, further evidencing the surname's proliferation across England.
The mid-17th century saw one William Whittamore, a participant in the English Civil War, signifying the name’s continued presence and prominence through significant historical events. His legacy illustrates not just geographic, but also cultural and political continuance of the Whittamore name in English history.
A notable figure in the 18th century is Anne Whittamore, born in 1732, documented in parish records in Lancashire. Her family's detailed genealogy highlights the endurance and dispersion of the surname over generations. More recent historical records mention George Whittamore, a respected solicitor operating out of London in the late 19th century, contributing to the legal and civic life of the Victorian era.
Overall, the Whittamore surname reflects a rich tapestry of English history, with roots in the medieval agricultural landscape and enduring through successive centuries. It serves as a marker of both familial lineage and social presence in English heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whittamore surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Bedfordshire leads with 26 Whittamores recorded in 1881 and an index of 95.34x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bedfordshire | 26 | 95.34x |
| Middlesex | 14 | 2.66x |
| Hertfordshire | 11 | 30.29x |
| Huntingdonshire | 3 | 28.68x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clophill in Bedfordshire leads with 9 Whittamores recorded in 1881 and an index of 4500.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Clophill | 9 | 4500.00x |
| Islington London | 7 | 13.71x |
| Hornsey | 6 | 90.09x |
| Bedford St Paul | 4 | 213.90x |
| Bramfield | 4 | 8000.00x |
| Hawnes | 4 | 2352.94x |
| Hitchin | 4 | 243.90x |
| Leighton Buzzard | 4 | 341.88x |
| Eynesbury | 3 | 1250.00x |
| Stevenage | 3 | 535.71x |
| Turvey | 2 | 1176.47x |
| Ampthill | 1 | 243.90x |
| Bedford St Cuthbert | 1 | 416.67x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 3.42x |
| Wrestlingworth | 1 | 833.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Whittamore surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Whittamore surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Whittamore households.
FAQ
In 1881, 54 people were recorded with the Whittamore surname. That placed it at #26,009 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 51 in 2016. That gives Whittamore a modern rank of #34,838.
A locational surname originating in England, derived from a place name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Whittamore bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.