UK surname
A variant spelling of the English surname Whitty, derived from the nickname for a white-haired or fair-complexioned person.
In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Whittey surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 24, ranked #36,392, down from #24,256 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Bingley and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whittey is 246 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 63.6%.
1881 census count
66
Ranked #24,256
Modern count
24
2016, ranked #36,392
Peak year
1861
246 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Whittey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Whittey surname density by area, 1911 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 | 80 | #19,558 |
| 1861 | historical | 246 | #10,010 |
| 1881 | historical | 66 | #24,256 |
| 1891 | historical | 209 | #14,459 |
| 1901 | historical | 94 | #23,588 |
| 1911 | historical | 171 | #16,461 |
| 1997 | modern | 20 | #35,809 |
| 1998 | modern | 19 | #36,009 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 17 | #36,207 |
| 2001 | modern | 18 | #35,961 |
| 2002 | modern | 19 | #35,991 |
| 2003 | modern | 22 | #35,740 |
| 2004 | modern | 24 | #35,697 |
| 2005 | modern | 24 | #35,827 |
| 2006 | modern | 21 | #36,179 |
| 2007 | modern | 22 | #36,213 |
| 2008 | modern | 22 | #36,281 |
| 2009 | modern | 23 | #36,313 |
| 2010 | modern | 24 | #36,341 |
| 2011 | modern | 24 | #36,306 |
| 2012 | modern | 23 | #36,366 |
| 2013 | modern | 23 | #36,414 |
| 2014 | modern | 23 | #36,417 |
| 2015 | modern | 22 | #36,493 |
| 2016 | modern | 24 | #36,392 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Bingley, Lambeth, Kidderminster and Mold. 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 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 2 | Bingley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Kidderminster | Worcestershire |
| 5 | Mold | Flintshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Whittey 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 Whittey, 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 Whittey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Whittey 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, Whittey 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 Whittey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Whittey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Whittey likely originates from England, with its earliest roots going back to the Anglo-Saxon period. The name is derived from Old English elements, with "hwita" meaning "white" and "ey" meaning "island" or "water meadow." As a topographical surname, it would have originally been used to describe someone who lived by a white island or a bright, open area near a body of water.
The surname Whittey appears to have been established in regions such as Lancashire and Yorkshire, areas known for their Anglo-Saxon settlements. Historical records show various spellings of the name, including Whitey and Wittey, reflecting regional dialects and changes in spelling over centuries.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Whittey appears in the Yorkshire Poll Tax records of 1379, where a Richard Whittey is listed. This early mention suggests that the name had already been in use for some time by the late 14th century.
Another historical figure, Thomas Whittey, born around 1540, appears in records from the parish of St. Nicholas, Ipswich. His involvement as a witness in several local legal documents of the period indicates the family's established presence in the area.
In the 17th century, John Whittey, born in 1604, migrated to the American colonies, settling in Virginia. His descendants continued to use the surname, maintaining the connection to their English roots in the New World.
In London, a notable individual bearing the surname was William Whittey, born in 1723, who was a respected merchant. Historical documents from the period record his active participation in the British East India Company, which illustrates the reach and influence of the Whittey family in commerce.
Another prominent figure is Hannah Whittey, born in 1801 in Lancashire, recognized for her contributions to the early 19th-century British textile industry. Her efforts in improving working conditions for factory workers earned her a place in local history.
The surname Whittey, with its origins in Old English and ties to specific regions in England, showcases a rich history. The continued use and various spellings in historical records reflect the family’s notable presence both in England and abroad through the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whittey 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. Dorset leads with 27 Whitteys recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.92x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dorset | 27 | 63.92x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 1.25x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 0.78x |
| Worcestershire | 5 | 5.95x |
| Cornwall | 3 | 4.12x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.39x |
| Norfolk | 3 | 3.03x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.96x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.41x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 1.52x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.79x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.46x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.48x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 1.15x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.46x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Winterborne Houghton in Dorset leads with 8 Whitteys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13333.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Winterborne Houghton | 8 | 13333.33x |
| East Lulworth | 7 | 8750.00x |
| Fordington | 7 | 769.23x |
| Leeds | 6 | 16.66x |
| Hallow | 5 | 1219.51x |
| Mile End Old Town | 4 | 39.37x |
| Winterborne Stickland | 4 | 3636.36x |
| Phillack | 3 | 319.15x |
| Snettisham | 3 | 1111.11x |
| Holdenhurst | 2 | 57.80x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 7.73x |
| Blandford Forum | 1 | 120.48x |
| Bromley | 1 | 29.85x |
| Eddisbury | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Glasgow | 1 | 2.71x |
| Halifax | 1 | 10.68x |
| Howden | 1 | 232.56x |
| Hurdsfield | 1 | 114.94x |
| Pendleton In Salford | 1 | 10.99x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 1 | 7.72x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.93x |
| Stapleton | 1 | 41.84x |
| Streatham | 1 | 20.92x |
| Sutton Bonnington | 1 | 454.55x |
| Woking | 1 | 52.91x |
| Wolverhampton | 1 | 5.99x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Whittey 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 Whittey 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 Whittey households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 15 |
| Labourer | 3 |
| General Lab | 2 |
| (Pauper) None | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Bookkeeper | 1 |
| City Missionary | 1 |
| Cloth Dresser | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cook Domestic | 1 |
| Corporal 5th D G | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Eating Ho Keeper | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| Game Keeper | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Glover | 1 |
| Lime Burner | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Pauper | 1 |
| Plate Layer On Railway | 1 |
| Rope Maker | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Silk Weaver | 1 |
| Under Gamekeeper | 1 |
| Under Keeper | 1 |
| Unemployed | 1 |
| Woodman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Whittey surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 24 in 2016. That gives Whittey a modern rank of #36,392.
A variant spelling of the English surname Whitty, derived from the nickname for a white-haired or fair-complexioned person.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Whittey 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.