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Whittaker Family History

Whittaker Surname Meaning

English: variant of Whitaker.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Whittaker family from?

You can see how Whittaker families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Whittaker family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Whittaker families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 8,717 Whittaker families living in Lancashire. This was about 56% of all the recorded Whittaker's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Whittaker families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Whittaker 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 Whittaker 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 Whittaker. 8% of Whittaker men worked as a General Labourer and 64% of Whittaker women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Whittaker were Retired and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Whittaker | 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
    8%
  • Cotton Weaver
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Retired
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    64%
  • Cotton Weaver
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Whittaker family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 274,000 census records available for the last name Whittaker. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Whittaker census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Whittaker

Passenger Lists

There are 28,000 immigration records available for the last name Whittaker. 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 Whittaker immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 29,000 military records available for the last name Whittaker. For the veterans among your Whittaker ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Whittaker military records

You've only scratched the surface of Whittaker family history

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What is the average Whittaker lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Whittaker life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Whittaker in 1940 was 65, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Whittaker

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Whittaker 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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