NameCensus.

UK surname

Whittle

An English occupational surname referring to a woodcarver or carpenter skilled in the art of whittling.

In the 1881 census there were 6,516 people recorded with the Whittle surname, ranking it #653 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,509, ranked #777, down from #653 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Prescot and Dean. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Preston, Wigan and Chorley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whittle is 9,181 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.6%.

1881 census count

6,516

Ranked #653

Modern count

8,509

2016, ranked #777

Peak year

1999

9,181 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whittle had 6,516 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #653 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,509 in 2016, ranked #777.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9,078 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Whittle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whittle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whittle 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 4,250 #669
1861 historical 4,415 #640
1881 historical 6,516 #653
1891 historical 7,016 #640
1901 historical 8,289 #647
1911 historical 9,078 #542
1997 modern 8,789 #715
1998 modern 9,013 #726
1999 modern 9,181 #721
2000 modern 9,103 #724
2001 modern 8,994 #715
2002 modern 9,115 #725
2003 modern 8,867 #725
2004 modern 8,783 #734
2005 modern 8,543 #744
2006 modern 8,468 #751
2007 modern 8,568 #749
2008 modern 8,594 #750
2009 modern 8,769 #755
2010 modern 8,959 #755
2011 modern 8,784 #757
2012 modern 8,533 #768
2013 modern 8,727 #760
2014 modern 8,680 #772
2015 modern 8,562 #773
2016 modern 8,509 #777

Geography

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Where Whittles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Prescot, Dean, Preston and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Preston, Wigan and Chorley. 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 3
2 Prescot Lancashire
3 Dean Lancashire
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Preston 009 Preston
2 Wigan 024 Wigan
3 Chorley 010 Chorley
4 Wigan 026 Wigan
5 Wigan 010 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whittle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whittle

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Whittle 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

Whittle is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Whittle 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 Whittle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Whittle

The surname Whittle originates from England and dates back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is derived from the Old English word "whitel," which means "white" or "pure." The name likely referred to someone with fair hair or complexion, or it may have been a descriptive name for someone who worked with white materials like lime or chalk.

The earliest recorded instance of the Whittle surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Witel" and "Witelithe." This suggests that the name was already well-established in various regions of England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various records as "Whittele," "Whittel," and "Whyttel." These spellings reflect the development of the name over time and the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

One notable figure bearing the Whittle surname was John Whittle (1629-1692), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Edmund's Church in Salisbury, Wiltshire. He wrote several works on theology and religious subjects.

Another individual of note was Sir Frank Whittle (1907-1996), a British Royal Air Force officer and inventor who pioneered the development of the jet engine. His groundbreaking work paved the way for modern aviation technology.

In the 18th century, the Whittle surname was associated with several place names in England, such as Whittlebury in Northamptonshire and Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire. These place names likely derived from the Old English "hwit" meaning "white" and "leah" meaning "clearing" or "meadow."

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded Whittles was William Whittle (1661-1742), who settled in Virginia in the late 17th century. His descendants played significant roles in the American Revolutionary War and the early years of the United States.

Another notable American Whittle was John C. Whittle (1835-1922), a Confederate soldier during the American Civil War and later a prominent businessman and politician in Missouri. He served as the United States Assistant Secretary of the Interior from 1897 to 1903.

Throughout its history, the Whittle surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, inventors, soldiers, and politicians. Its origins can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era in England, where it likely described someone with a fair complexion or occupation related to white materials.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Whittle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whittle 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 3,719 Whittles recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.92x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3,719 4.92x
Dorset 322 7.71x
Surrey 225 0.73x
Cheshire 208 1.48x
Middlesex 203 0.32x
Staffordshire 185 0.86x
Durham 141 0.74x
Northumberland 139 1.47x
Nottinghamshire 124 1.45x
Yorkshire 121 0.19x
Hampshire 115 0.88x
Leicestershire 111 1.57x
Wiltshire 96 1.71x
Somerset 86 0.84x
Suffolk 79 1.02x
Warwickshire 71 0.44x
Worcestershire 70 0.84x
Kent 66 0.30x
Northamptonshire 54 0.90x
Devon 48 0.36x
Derbyshire 46 0.46x
Sussex 38 0.35x
Gloucestershire 36 0.29x
Cumberland 29 0.53x
Glamorgan 21 0.19x
Channel Islands 18 0.95x
Shropshire 16 0.29x
Lincolnshire 15 0.15x
Rutland 15 3.21x
Lanarkshire 14 0.07x
Berkshire 11 0.23x
Bedfordshire 10 0.30x
Essex 8 0.06x
Royal Navy 8 1.05x
Cornwall 7 0.10x
Hertfordshire 7 0.16x
Herefordshire 6 0.23x
Renfrewshire 6 0.12x
Aberdeenshire 5 0.08x
Flintshire 5 0.29x
Monmouthshire 5 0.11x
Brecknockshire 4 0.31x
Norfolk 3 0.03x
Midlothian 2 0.02x
Angus 1 0.02x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.02x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.07x
Oxfordshire 1 0.03x
West Lothian 1 0.10x
Westmorland 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 387 Whittles recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.15x.

Place Total Index
Preston 387 19.15x
Little Bolton 152 15.65x
Wigan 137 12.98x
Great Bolton 124 12.39x
Chorley 111 26.19x
Hindley 100 31.05x
Westhoughton 99 49.12x
Blackburn 82 4.08x
Atherton 77 28.01x
Croston 76 194.77x
Everton 66 2.74x
Walton Le Dale 66 32.52x
Salford 64 2.88x
Halliwell 62 22.56x
Over Darwen 59 9.78x
West Derby 59 2.67x
Windle 58 13.65x
Worsley 58 12.46x
Warrington 52 5.81x
Manchester 50 1.47x
Ince In Makerfield 49 13.94x
Lambeth 49 0.88x
Long Melford 49 68.01x
Liverpool 48 1.05x
Portsea 48 1.88x
Nottingham St Mary 45 2.03x
Newton 44 7.56x
Coppull 41 101.89x
Freckleton 37 149.07x
Ashton In Makerfield 34 15.81x
Toxteth Park 34 1.33x
Farnworth 33 7.29x
Harwood 33 83.63x
Leyland 33 25.11x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 33 15.18x
Camberwell 32 0.79x
Kirkdale 32 2.52x
Parr 32 11.84x
Openshaw 29 8.20x
Islington London 28 0.45x
Turton 28 22.64x
Harborne 27 3.92x
Poole St James 27 17.20x
Barrow In Furness 26 2.53x
Battersea 26 1.11x
Birmingham 26 0.49x
Bremhill 26 102.52x
Farington 26 59.13x
Haydock 26 19.98x
Oldham 26 1.07x
Alston 25 71.08x
Hulme 23 1.46x
Ormskirk 23 15.91x
Stockport 23 3.18x
Ardwick 22 3.23x
Aston 22 0.50x
Bedford 22 13.93x
Brighton 22 1.02x
Horwich 22 26.71x
Little Hulton 22 17.59x
Alfreton 21 6.94x
Birkenhead 21 1.87x
Bury 21 2.43x
Peterborough 21 4.84x
Scalford 21 140.28x
Birkdale 20 10.47x
Lenton 20 9.90x
Aspull 19 10.69x
Habergham Eaves 19 2.75x
Pendleton In Salford 19 2.11x
St Marylebone London 19 0.56x
St Pancras London 19 0.37x
Wolverhampton 19 1.15x
Bilston 18 4.32x
Bootle Cum Linacre 18 3.00x
Melcombe Regis 18 10.40x
North Meols 18 2.43x
Royton 18 7.79x
Tarleton 18 43.34x
West Bromwich 18 1.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 470
Elizabeth 300
Sarah 231
Ann 188
Alice 164
Ellen 163
Margaret 159
Jane 157
Eliza 82
Annie 73
Hannah 66
Martha 61
Emma 60
Emily 43
Catherine 37
Ada 36
Isabella 35
Agnes 27
Edith 27
Florence 26
Harriet 26
Lucy 26
Charlotte 25
Maria 25
Anne 24
Esther 24
Amelia 23
Fanny 22
Kate 22
Louisa 22
Nancy 22
Caroline 20
Susan 20
Clara 18
Betsy 16
Susannah 16
Elizth. 15
Harriett 15
Frances 14
Margt. 14
Rachel 14
Rebecca 14
Betty 12
Margret 12
Ruth 12
Eleanor 11
Bertha 10
Amy 9
Beatrice 9
Ethel 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 467
William 378
James 302
Thomas 272
George 161
Joseph 128
Henry 123
Robert 103
Richard 102
Edward 96
Charles 72
Alfred 51
Arthur 48
Peter 39
Samuel 38
Albert 36
Frederick 34
Walter 34
Isaac 25
Wm. 25
Harry 20
Thos. 20
Frank 19
Benjamin 18
Hugh 18
David 16
Ernest 15
Edwin 14
Herbert 14
Ralph 14
Daniel 13
Francis 13
Fredk. 10
Jno. 10
Alexander 9
Eli 9
Levi 9
Abel 7
Abraham 7
Fredrick 7
Jas. 7
Jonathan 7
Elijah 6
Fred 6
Joshua 6
Matthew 6
Robt. 6
Chas. 5
Edmund 5
Josiah 5

FAQ

Whittle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whittle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6,516 people were recorded with the Whittle surname. That placed it at #653 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whittle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,509 in 2016. That gives Whittle a modern rank of #777.

What does the Whittle surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a woodcarver or carpenter skilled in the art of whittling.

What does the Whittle map show?

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