NameCensus.

UK surname

Whitty

A surname derived from the word "wit" meaning a person of intelligence or wisdom.

In the 1881 census there were 419 people recorded with the Whitty surname, ranking it #7,703 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,001, ranked #5,799, up from #7,703 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Poole St James and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, St. Helens and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whitty is 1,025 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 138.9%.

1881 census count

419

Ranked #7,703

Modern count

1,001

2016, ranked #5,799

Peak year

2002

1,025 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whitty had 419 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,703 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,001 in 2016, ranked #5,799.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 793 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Whitty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whitty surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whitty 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 210 #10,030
1861 historical 309 #8,207
1881 historical 419 #7,703
1891 historical 573 #6,640
1901 historical 652 #6,629
1911 historical 793 #5,505
1997 modern 954 #5,699
1998 modern 1,012 #5,625
1999 modern 998 #5,723
2000 modern 1,009 #5,648
2001 modern 986 #5,635
2002 modern 1,025 #5,588
2003 modern 985 #5,658
2004 modern 970 #5,742
2005 modern 969 #5,675
2006 modern 978 #5,651
2007 modern 986 #5,670
2008 modern 995 #5,670
2009 modern 1,004 #5,747
2010 modern 1,018 #5,798
2011 modern 1,003 #5,809
2012 modern 988 #5,801
2013 modern 1,018 #5,742
2014 modern 1,023 #5,750
2015 modern 997 #5,818
2016 modern 1,001 #5,799

Geography

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Where Whittys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Poole St James, Manchester, Kidderminster and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, St. Helens, Cornwall, Purbeck and Wirral. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Poole St James Dorset
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Kidderminster Worcestershire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 011 West Dorset
2 St. Helens 015 St. Helens
3 Cornwall 065 Cornwall
4 Purbeck 004 Purbeck
5 Wirral 035 Wirral

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whitty

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whitty

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Whitty, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Whitty surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Whitty household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Whitty 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

Whitty 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

Whitty falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Whitty 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 Whitty, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Whitty

The surname Whitty is of English origin, dating back to the medieval period. It is primarily found in regions such as Lancashire and Devon in England. The name is derived from the Old English elements "hwit," meaning "white," and the suffix "-ey" or "-y," which could denote an island or a piece of land. Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived by a "white island" or a clear, notable piece of land.

Historical records indicate that the surname Whitty has been in use for several centuries. One of the earliest mentions of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a landowner named Witega is listed, showcasing the early presence of names with similar phonetic qualities. The surname evolved over time from such Old English roots, with variations like Whittey appearing in documents from the 12th and 13th centuries.

A notable historical reference includes John Whitty, an early recorded individual who appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Devon in 1327. This document is among the oldest tax records in England, offering a glimpse into the common use of the name during that era.

Thomas Whitty, born in 1713 and deceased in 1792, is another significant figure linked to this surname. He is renowned for founding the Axminster Carpet Factory in Devon in 1755, which gained fame for its high-quality carpets that became highly sought after by the English aristocracy and even the royal family.

In ecclesiastical history, there was a priest named Richard Whitty who served in Ireland in the late 16th century. Records from the Annals of the Four Masters indicate his involvement in the Catholic Church during a time of religious turbulence, showcasing the geographical spread of the surname beyond England and into Ireland.

Peter Whitty, an influential figure in maritime trade during the 18th century, was known for his work with the East India Company. He facilitated crucial trade routes between England and Asia, demonstrating the prominent roles undertaken by bearers of this surname.

In the realm of literature, Edward Whitty, born in 1827 and deceased in 1860, made his mark as a journalist and novelist. His work "The Governing Classes of Great Britain," published in 1854, offered a scathing critique of the political elite, reflecting the intellectual legacy borne by individuals with this surname.

The surname Whitty, rooted in medieval England, has been carried by notable individuals across various domains, from commerce and the church to literature, thereby illustrating its rich and multifaceted history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Whitty families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whitty 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 137 Whittys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.86x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 137 2.86x
Dorset 56 21.13x
Yorkshire 35 0.87x
Warwickshire 29 2.85x
Middlesex 27 0.67x
Hampshire 25 3.02x
Surrey 25 1.27x
Worcestershire 17 3.22x
Somerset 10 1.54x
Norfolk 8 1.29x
Cheshire 7 0.79x
Gloucestershire 6 0.76x
Lanarkshire 6 0.46x
Essex 5 0.63x
Midlothian 5 0.92x
Lincolnshire 4 0.62x
Fife 2 0.84x
Monmouthshire 2 0.69x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.37x
Royal Navy 2 4.16x
Berkshire 1 0.33x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.39x
Channel Islands 1 0.84x
Cornwall 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 43 Whittys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.77x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 43 14.77x
Litherland 15 149.70x
West Derby 14 9.99x
Everton 13 8.51x
Lambeth 12 3.41x
Little Bolton 12 19.48x
Portsea 12 7.40x
Toxteth Park 12 7.40x
Aston 9 3.21x
West Chelborough 9 10000.00x
Beaminster 8 271.19x
St Pancras London 8 2.46x
Widnes 8 23.15x
Areley Kings 7 744.68x
Hudswell 7 2800.00x
Leamington 7 103.70x
Leamington Priors 7 27.93x
Martley 7 463.58x
Poole St James 7 70.28x
Shere 7 294.12x
Bristol St Augustine 6 46.95x
East Coker 6 422.54x
Govan 6 1.86x
Hunslet 6 9.62x
Manchester 6 2.78x
Newton In Makerfield 6 40.90x
North Poorton 5 6250.00x
Old Buckenham 5 314.47x
South Leith 5 8.21x
Acton 4 16.90x
Barton St Mary 4 123.46x
Birmingham 4 1.18x
Cerne Abbas 4 312.50x
Christchurch 4 22.28x
Kensington London 4 1.78x
Kirkdale 4 4.96x
Lillington 4 2105.26x
West Ham 4 2.27x
Beverley St Martin 3 44.91x
Camberwell 3 1.16x
Maiden Newton 3 270.27x
Morden 3 267.86x
Rampisham 3 750.00x
Sculcoates 3 4.73x
South Perrott 3 714.29x
Whitby 3 22.24x
Whitechapel London 3 7.54x
Alverstoke 2 6.68x
Brightside Bierlow 2 2.55x
Chesilborne 2 408.16x
Farnborough 2 23.02x
Fordingbridge 2 44.44x
Great Little Saughall 2 204.08x
Hackney London 2 0.88x
Hunstanton 2 95.24x
Iwerne Courtnay 2 112.36x
Kirkcaldy 2 16.86x
Mirfield 2 9.10x
Nether Hallam 2 3.69x
Over Alderley 2 363.64x
Swanage 2 61.16x
Bathwick 1 13.91x
Caerleon 1 65.79x
Crondall 1 22.47x
Dagenham 1 21.10x
Hartford 1 49.51x
Hutton Cranswick 1 59.52x
Islington London 1 0.26x
Newport 1 7.18x
Newton 1 2.71x
Old Windsor 1 28.49x
Princethorpe 1 232.56x
Putney 1 5.43x
Royal Navy 1 2.43x
Southampton St Mary 1 1.92x
Trevalga 1 526.32x
Westminster St John 1 2.03x
Wisbech St Peter 1 7.79x
Wrington 1 45.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Elizabeth 14
Alice 11
Jane 11
Annie 7
Emma 7
Catherine 6
Margaret 5
Sarah 5
Ada 4
Ann 4
Charlotte 4
Eliza 4
Ellen 4
Harriet 4
Bridget 3
E. 3
Edith 3
Louisa 3
Martha 3
Anna 2
Cathe. 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Hannah 2
Helen 2
Jemima 2
Maria 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Amy 1
Barbara 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Eleanor 1
Emily 1
Eva 1
Isabela 1
Isabella 1
Jean 1
Joanna 1
Johnna 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Lilion 1
Lily 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 27
William 21
Thomas 18
George 12
James 11
Henry 7
Albert 6
Charles 6
Patrick 6
Robert 6
Walter 6
Frederick 4
Joseph 4
Edward 3
Harry 3
Martin 3
Peter 3
Richard 3
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Herbert 2
Jno. 2
Job 2
Josiah 2
Luke 2
Nicholas 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Valentine 2
Wm. 2
Archibald 1
August 1
Baruch 1
Christopher 1
Edwd. 1
Eli 1
Francis 1
Harold 1
Isaac 1
Jesse 1
Mark 1
Michael 1
Michl. 1
Nelson 1
Owen 1
Pat 1
Sidney 1
Simon 1
Tobias 1

FAQ

Whitty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whitty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 419 people were recorded with the Whitty surname. That placed it at #7,703 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whitty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,001 in 2016. That gives Whitty a modern rank of #5,799.

What does the Whitty surname mean?

A surname derived from the word "wit" meaning a person of intelligence or wisdom.

What does the Whitty map show?

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