NameCensus.

UK surname

Witherspoon

A locational surname referring to someone from a place near a sheep enclosure or a fork in a river.

In the 1881 census there were 178 people recorded with the Witherspoon surname, ranking it #13,840 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 295, ranked #14,915, down from #13,840 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Edinburgh and Washington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gateshead, County Durham and Solihull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Witherspoon is 342 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 65.7%.

1881 census count

178

Ranked #13,840

Modern count

295

2016, ranked #14,915

Peak year

2010

342 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Witherspoon had 178 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,840 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 295 in 2016, ranked #14,915.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 178 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Witherspoon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Witherspoon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Witherspoon 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 116 #15,545
1861 historical 135 #16,651
1881 historical 178 #13,840
1891 historical 131 #20,073
1901 historical 172 #16,643
1911 historical 176 #16,185
1997 modern 290 #13,832
1998 modern 299 #13,908
1999 modern 309 #13,697
2000 modern 297 #14,008
2001 modern 293 #13,933
2002 modern 306 #13,835
2003 modern 297 #13,917
2004 modern 308 #13,655
2005 modern 306 #13,657
2006 modern 300 #13,911
2007 modern 304 #13,927
2008 modern 319 #13,581
2009 modern 333 #13,434
2010 modern 342 #13,440
2011 modern 325 #13,808
2012 modern 301 #14,476
2013 modern 306 #14,557
2014 modern 303 #14,733
2015 modern 300 #14,758
2016 modern 295 #14,915

Geography

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Where Witherspoons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Edinburgh, Washington, Old Monkland and Aberdeen and Old Machar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gateshead, County Durham and Solihull. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Washington Durham
4 Old Monkland Lanark
5 Aberdeen and Old Machar Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gateshead 026 Gateshead
2 County Durham 019 County Durham
3 Solihull 011 Solihull
4 County Durham 011 County Durham
5 County Durham 024 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Witherspoon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Witherspoon

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Witherspoon is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Witherspoon is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Witherspoon 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 Witherspoon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Witherspoon

The surname Witherspoon has its origins in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "wider" meaning "against" and "spoon" referring to a wooded area or forest, suggesting a possible connection to someone who lived near or worked in a forest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Witherspoon can be found in the parish records of Leyburn, Yorkshire, in 1596, where a John Witherspoon was listed. The name also appears in the Hearth Tax Rolls of County Durham in 1666, indicating its presence in the north of England during that period.

While the Witherspoon surname does not appear in the Domesday Book of 1086, it is likely that the name evolved from earlier place names or descriptive surnames related to the individual's occupation or location.

Among the notable historical figures bearing the Witherspoon surname is John Witherspoon (1723-1794), a Scottish-American Presbyterian minister and a signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence. He served as the president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) from 1768 until his death.

Another prominent individual was Thomas Witherspoon (1781-1853), an American politician and lawyer who served as a United States Senator from South Carolina from 1819 to 1825.

In the literary world, John Witherspoon (1776-1854), a Scottish poet and clergyman, is remembered for his work "The Church of Scotland: A Poem." He was born in Paisley, Scotland, and served as the minister of the Laigh Kirk in Paisley from 1810 until his death.

The surname Witherspoon can also be found in the military records of the American Civil War, with individuals such as William Witherspoon (1836-1862), who served as a Union Army officer and was killed in action during the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee.

Thomas Witherspoon (1781-1853), mentioned earlier, had a son named John Witherspoon (1809-1868), who followed in his father's footsteps and pursued a career in law and politics, serving as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives.

These examples illustrate the widespread presence of the Witherspoon surname throughout history, spanning various professions and geographical locations, but with a common English origin and evolution over several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Witherspoon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Witherspoon 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. Durham leads with 59 Witherspoons recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.42x.

County Total Index
Durham 59 11.42x
Lanarkshire 31 5.52x
Lancashire 12 0.58x
Middlesex 12 0.69x
Midlothian 11 4.73x
Perthshire 10 12.83x
Ayrshire 9 6.93x
Stirlingshire 8 12.49x
Kent 7 1.18x
Aberdeenshire 6 3.73x
Gloucestershire 6 1.76x
Essex 1 0.29x
Inverness-shire 1 1.93x
Renfrewshire 1 0.74x
Shropshire 1 0.67x
Surrey 1 0.12x
Sussex 1 0.34x
Warwickshire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birtley in Durham leads with 30 Witherspoons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1421.80x.

Place Total Index
Birtley 30 1421.80x
Old Monkland 24 107.72x
Chester Le Street 18 453.40x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 10 10.69x
Hetton Le Hole 10 152.67x
Stevenston 9 265.49x
Abernethy 8 784.31x
Alva 7 229.51x
Hougham 7 198.86x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 6 19.95x
Everton 6 9.14x
Islington London 6 3.57x
Bethnal Green London 4 5.30x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 24.45x
Bristol St James St Paul 4 35.24x
Bothwell 3 19.70x
Barony 2 1.41x
Bristol St Paul In 2 22.05x
Clerkenwell London 2 4.88x
Liverpool 2 1.60x
Tibbermore 2 178.57x
Abbey 1 4.87x
Cambusnethan 1 8.02x
Campsie 1 28.49x
East Grinstead 1 24.15x
Gateshead 1 2.59x
Glasgow 1 1.00x
Mitcham 1 18.69x
Stoke Upon Tern 1 181.82x
Stow 1 83.33x
Urquhart Glenmoriston 1 68.03x
Warwick St Nicholas 1 31.15x
West Ham 1 1.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Jane 4
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Elizabeth 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Lucy 2
Alice 1
Charlotte 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Helena 1
Infant 1
Jennie 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Margret 1
Maud 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Robert 9
Henry 5
John 5
Joseph 4
James 3
Thomas 3
William 3
Arthur 2
George 2
Matthew 2
Robt. 2
Albert 1
Edwd. 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Fredericke 1
Geo. 1
Hry. 1
Michael 1
Michl 1
Robt.E. 1
Samuel 1
W. 1

FAQ

Witherspoon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Witherspoon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 178 people were recorded with the Witherspoon surname. That placed it at #13,840 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Witherspoon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 295 in 2016. That gives Witherspoon a modern rank of #14,915.

What does the Witherspoon surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a place near a sheep enclosure or a fork in a river.

What does the Witherspoon map show?

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