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Whitaker Family History

Whitaker Surname Meaning

English (Yorkshire and Lancashire): habitational name from Whitacre in Warwickshire or High Whitaker in Lancashire, both of whose names derive from Old English hwīt ‘white’ + æcer ‘field’. The name may also be derived from Wheatacre in Norfolk or Whiteacre in Waltham (Kent), both of which derive from Old English hwǣte ‘wheat’ + æcer ‘field’.

Compare Whittaker.

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


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Where is the Whitaker family from?

You can see how Whitaker families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Whitaker family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Whitaker families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 4,822 Whitaker families living in Yorkshire. This was about 56% of all the recorded Whitaker's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Whitaker families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Whitaker 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 Whitaker 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 Whitaker. 5% of Whitaker men worked as a General Labourer and 65% of Whitaker women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Whitaker were Farmer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Whitaker | 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
    5%
  • Cotton Weaver
    4%
  • Dairy Farmer
    4%
  • Farmer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    65%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Cotton Weaver
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%

What Whitaker family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 357,000 census records available for the last name Whitaker. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Whitaker census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Whitaker

Passenger Lists

There are 21,000 immigration records available for the last name Whitaker. 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 Whitaker immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 50,000 military records available for the last name Whitaker. For the veterans among your Whitaker ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Whitaker military records

You've only scratched the surface of Whitaker family history

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What is the average Whitaker lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Whitaker life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Whitaker in 1940 was 42, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Whitaker

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Whitaker 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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