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Whitehurst Family History

Whitehurst Surname Meaning

English (Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Derbyshire): habitational name from Whitehurst in Dilhorne (Staffordshire) named with Old English hwīt ‘white’ + hyrst ‘wood’.

Sometimes it may also originate from other places with the same name, such as Whithurst in Kirdford (Sussex).

The components of the name reflect characteristics of the landscape and local geography.

As is common with habitational surnames, the name denotes a connection to a specific location or area.

These names often provide insights into historical land use and settlement patterns in England.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Whitehurst family from?

You can see how Whitehurst families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Whitehurst family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Whitehurst families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 389 Whitehurst families living in Staffordshire. This was about 42% of all the recorded Whitehurst's in United Kingdom. Staffordshire had the highest population of Whitehurst families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Whitehurst surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Whitehurst ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Whitehurst. 20% of Whitehurst men worked as a General Labourer and 67% of Whitehurst women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Whitehurst were Bricklayer and Household Duties.

View Census Data for Whitehurst | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    20%
  • Farm Labourer
    5%
  • Dairy Farmer
    5%
  • Bricklayer
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dut
    3%
  • Household Duties
    2%

What Whitehurst family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 39,000 census records available for the last name Whitehurst. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Whitehurst census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Whitehurst

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Whitehurst. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Whitehurst immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 8,000 military records available for the last name Whitehurst. For the veterans among your Whitehurst ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Whitehurst military records

You've only scratched the surface of Whitehurst family history

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What is the average Whitehurst lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Whitehurst life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1946. The average life expectancy for Whitehurst in 1945 was 33, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Whitehurst

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Whitehurst ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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