The Whittaker surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 17,234 people carried this name — #2,100 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 17,100 people counted. That is up 5% from 16,441 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Whittaker surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘of the white acre’.

An early record he cites: Alan Witacur, Oxfordshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Whittaker, Whitacre, Whitaker and Whittiker.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 809 · public domain.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 25 people named Whittaker.

Most of them — 17 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 5 départements, most often Nord.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 17
Nord 2
Paris 2
Guadeloupe 2
Oise 1
Vienne 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

41 people named Whittaker is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 41

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Whittaker was found among the farmers of 5 counties.

It was most frequent in Yorkshire, West Riding: 45 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 222. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent. His list gives one count for the spellings Whittaker and Whitaker.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Yorkshire, West Riding 45
Lancashire 40
Cheshire 26
Derbyshire 11
Staffordshire 8

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In Scotland’s registers today

Whittaker was recorded 13 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 1564th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 16. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Whittaker in American newspapers,
1864–1902.

Newspaper page from Prescott Journal carrying the name Whittaker
Prescott Journal 1864-12-03
Newspaper page from The Cheyenne Daily Leader carrying the name Whittaker
The Cheyenne Daily Leader 1894-06-05
Newspaper page from The Columbia Herald carrying the name Whittaker
The Columbia Herald 1902-04-25

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 98,400 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Whittaker in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

39,998 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Whittaker. The most, 9,287, date from the 1930s.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 15,141
Queensland 9,343
Victoria 7,037
Western Australia 3,238
South Australia 2,928
Tasmania 1,850
ACT (Canberra) 318
Northern Territory 64

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Whittaker.

Who carried it

People named Whittaker,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Thomas Whittaker
    Thomas Whittaker 1614–1646
  • Jane Whittaker
    Jane Whittaker 1799–1880
  • James Whittaker
    James Whittaker 1828–1876 · painter
  • Frances Maria Caroline Feilden
    Frances Maria Caroline Feilden 1840–1918 · writer
  • Thomas Whittaker
    Thomas Whittaker 1856–1935 · metaphysician

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped — Thomas Whittaker: Royal English College in Valladolid, CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0); the others are in the public domain or CC0 · 237 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Whittaker,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States2,307 records

2,307 records of the Whittaker name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 582
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 564
  • Other U.S. records 1,161
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record George A. Whittaker

    Born 1902 in Massachusetts. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Jay Governors Island, New York; carpenter. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1996, buried at Mosswood Cemetery, Cotuit, Massachusetts.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record James Whittaker

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Chester from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 37; laborer. From Nottingham, England; bound for Philadelphia.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Billie Whittaker

    Born 1930; from Haskell County, Oklahoma. U.S. Army, light weapons infantryman; killed in action 1950 in South Korea.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 2,307 records for Whittaker in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia1,360 records

1,360 records of the Whittaker name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 680
  • Tasmanian Names Index 231
  • Other Australian records 449
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Mary Ann Whittaker

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Emma Eugenia, sailing from London in 1843. Native of Flowton, Suffolk. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1847. Married 1847 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 26.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Joseph Abraham Whittaker

    Born 1879 in Hobart, Tasmania. Died 1916 in Tasmania, aged 36.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Samuel Heathcote Whittaker

    Born 1825 in Hobart, Tasmania. Married 1852 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 27.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,360 records for Whittaker in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Canada141 records

141 records of the Whittaker name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 28
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 25
  • Other Canadian records 88
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Chas Whittaker

    Came to Ontario in 1873 aboard the Prussian, landing at Quebec, bound for Hamilton, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Dalton Alexander Whittaker

    Buried in 1998 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 71.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record William Whittaker

    Died 1902 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 141 records for Whittaker in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom117 records

117 records of the Whittaker name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 101
  • Stirling Council burial records 9
  • Other British records 7
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jane Little Whittaker

    Died 1947, aged 67; buried at Bannockburn Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Agnes Booth Whittaker

    Will proved in 1933; of Colwyn Bay, Denbigh.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Charles Brown Whittaker

    Born 1890. Died 1916. Named in the University of Edinburgh roll of honour, 1914-1919.

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)

Showing 3 of 117 records for Whittaker in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand26 records

26 records of the Whittaker name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 20
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 3
  • Other New Zealand records 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Evelyn Elizabeth Whittaker

    Died 1927, aged 30; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Elizabeth Anne Whittaker

    Buried in 1979 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 97.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Isabella Whittaker

    Born 1916, died 1987; buried at Kaiapoi Public Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 26 records for Whittaker in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Canterbury Maps (Environment Canterbury), Timaru and Mackenzie District Councils (CC BY 3.0 NZ) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France8 records

8 records of the Whittaker name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Arthur Carrick Whittaker

    Born 1917 in Great Britain; died 2001 in Roubaix (Nord).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Jeannine Henriette Raymonde Whittaker

    Born 1924 in Rosendaël; died 1984 in Bailleul (Nord).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Richeld Whittaker

    Born 1935 in Great Britain; died 2001 in Puiseux-en-Bray (Oise).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 8 records for Whittaker in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands5 records

5 records of the Whittaker name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 4
  • Dutch population registers 1
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Thomas Henry Whittaker

    Died 1951 in Ridderkerk, aged 63.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record George Sranmey Whittaker

    Married in 1946 in Eindhoven.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Whittaker in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Other spellings of this name

The same name, spelled another way.

Spellings that H. B. Guppy (England and Wales, 1890) or the Registrar-General for Ireland (births index of 1890) counted as one name together with Whittaker.

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Whittaker.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Whittaker is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Whittaker volume
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