NameCensus.

UK surname

Whittick

A toponymic surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "hwit" meaning white, and "wic" meaning outlying farm or village.

In the 1881 census there were 211 people recorded with the Whittick surname, ranking it #12,407 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 317, ranked #14,198, down from #12,407 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick and West Derby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, Stafford and Kingston upon Thames.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whittick is 367 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.2%.

1881 census count

211

Ranked #12,407

Modern count

317

2016, ranked #14,198

Peak year

1999

367 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whittick had 211 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,407 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 317 in 2016, ranked #14,198.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 338 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Whittick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whittick surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whittick 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 131 #14,243
1861 historical 144 #15,817
1881 historical 211 #12,407
1891 historical 282 #11,597
1901 historical 308 #11,446
1911 historical 338 #10,521
1997 modern 339 #12,464
1998 modern 352 #12,489
1999 modern 367 #12,202
2000 modern 362 #12,264
2001 modern 348 #12,419
2002 modern 358 #12,402
2003 modern 348 #12,452
2004 modern 339 #12,744
2005 modern 325 #13,080
2006 modern 334 #12,912
2007 modern 326 #13,260
2008 modern 331 #13,237
2009 modern 336 #13,345
2010 modern 334 #13,690
2011 modern 315 #14,131
2012 modern 317 #13,960
2013 modern 312 #14,332
2014 modern 313 #14,406
2015 modern 312 #14,347
2016 modern 317 #14,198

Geography

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Where Whitticks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick, West Derby and Walsall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, Stafford, Kingston upon Thames, Cheshire East and Winchester. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 Walsall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 002 West Dorset
2 Stafford 015 Stafford
3 Kingston upon Thames 017 Kingston upon Thames
4 Cheshire East 007 Cheshire East
5 Winchester 009 Winchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whittick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whittick

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Whittick is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Whittick is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Whittick falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Whittick is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Whittick

The surname Whittick has its origins in England, predominantly dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be toponymic, originating from a geographical location or feature. Early records suggest it may derive from a place name, given its structure and composition.

The name likely originates from areas in Northern England, possibly linked to a settlement or manor. The Old English terms witt, meaning wise or white, and ǣc, meaning oak, might be components of the name, together suggesting a place with notable oak trees or a clearing associated with a wise person. Variations in spelling such as Wittek, Wyttek, and Whitock appear in early texts, hinting at regional dialectal influences and the evolution of English orthography.

Historical documents provide references to the surname. An early mention can be found in the 1379 Poll Tax records of Yorkshire, where a John Wytoke is listed. This indicates the presence and use of the surname in formal records during the late 14th century.

One notable individual is Richard Whittick, who appears in the 1450 records of Durham. Another significant figure was Thomas Whittick, a farmer documented in Suffolk in 1565. The name continued to appear in various parish records, highlighting its persistent use.

A noteworthy bearer of the name is Henry Whittick, born in Lancashire in 1623, who contributed to local agricultural advancements. In the 18th century, Elizabeth Whittick, born in 1730, was known in Kent for her involvement in community affairs.

Among the more famous members of the Whittick family was William Whittick, born in 1805, whose writings on local history and folklore had a lasting impact. These historical figures underscore the surname's enduring presence across several centuries and regions in England. The Whittick name not only reflects the natural or personal attributes of its earliest bearers but also the social and geographic landscapes from which it emerged.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Whittick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whittick 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. Middlesex leads with 76 Whitticks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.69x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 76 3.69x
Staffordshire 31 4.46x
Surrey 25 2.49x
Hampshire 23 5.45x
Berkshire 11 7.12x
Lancashire 9 0.37x
Kent 7 1.00x
Somerset 7 2.11x
Yorkshire 7 0.34x
Oxfordshire 4 3.15x
Gloucestershire 3 0.74x
Shropshire 3 1.69x
Sussex 3 0.86x
Cheshire 2 0.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Walsall Borough in Staffordshire leads with 17 Whitticks recorded in 1881 and an index of 315.40x.

Place Total Index
Walsall Borough 17 315.40x
Acton 14 115.99x
Walsall Foreign 14 39.01x
Chiswick 13 115.56x
North Waltham 11 3793.10x
Chertsey 9 138.89x
Blackburn 8 12.31x
Ealing 8 43.50x
Micheldever 8 1095.89x
Kingston On Thames 7 29.06x
Paddington London 7 9.25x
Hackney London 6 5.20x
Horton Kirby 6 550.46x
Kensington London 6 5.24x
St Pancras London 6 3.62x
Earley 5 194.55x
Westminster St 5 65.88x
Holy Trinity 4 8.15x
Reading St Lawrence 4 121.21x
Barnes 3 70.75x
Brightside Bierlow 3 7.50x
Cheltenham 3 9.63x
Heston 3 43.86x
Radstock 3 137.61x
Bromley London 2 4.42x
Cheswardine 2 263.16x
Ditchling 2 210.53x
Ipsden 2 400.00x
Midsomer Norton 2 64.10x
Portsea 2 2.42x
Wandsworth 2 10.10x
Bath St Michael 1 59.88x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.12x
Christchurch 1 10.93x
Drayton In Hales 1 27.25x
East Farleigh 1 84.75x
Feltham 1 48.54x
Godalming 1 15.85x
Guildford Holy Trinity 1 52.36x
Hammersmith London 1 1.97x
Hastings St Mary 1 11.57x
Henley On Thames 1 38.46x
Lambeth 1 0.56x
Lower Bebington 1 37.04x
Newington 1 1.32x
Nuffield 1 666.67x
Over 1 21.65x
Reading St Giles 1 6.60x
Reading St Mary 1 8.08x
St Andrew Holborn 1 14.33x
St Faith Winchester 1 50.76x
St Marylebone London 1 0.91x
St Sepulchre London 1 33.22x
Walcot 1 5.67x
Walton On Hill 1 7.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Sarah 9
Eliza 8
Elizabeth 8
Ann 5
Annie 5
Harriet 5
Alice 4
Emma 4
Amelia 3
Lucy 3
Ada 2
Clara 2
Emily 2
Eveline 2
Harriett 2
Jane 2
Martha 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Augusta 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Constance 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Hannah 1
Jenett 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Lilian 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Pamnera 1
Rachael 1
Rebecca 1
Rosina 1
Sybetta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
John 10
Henry 9
Thomas 9
Charles 6
George 6
Frederick 5
James 5
Edward 4
David 3
Alfred 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Adolphus 1
Albert 1
Alonzo 1
Bertram 1
Christopher 1
Ernest 1
Job 1
Jonas 1
Joseph 1
Owen 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Randle 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Whittick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whittick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 211 people were recorded with the Whittick surname. That placed it at #12,407 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whittick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 317 in 2016. That gives Whittick a modern rank of #14,198.

What does the Whittick surname mean?

A toponymic surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "hwit" meaning white, and "wic" meaning outlying farm or village.

What does the Whittick map show?

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