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Whitnall Family History

Whitnall Surname Meaning

From one or more of the following small places: Whitnal in Whitchurch (Hants), Whitnell in Fiddington (Somerset), Whitnell in Emborough (Somerset), Whitehill Wood in North Leigh (Oxon; Witenhull in 1279), or Witnells End in Upper Arley (Worcs; Whytenhull in 1295). The Oxon and Worcs place-names as well as Whitnell in Emborough (Somerset) derive from the Old English personal name Hwīta (genitive Hwītan) or Old English hwīt ‘white’ (dative hwītan) + hylle ‘hill’.

The etymology of Whitnell in Fiddington (Somerset) is uncertain due to a lack of medieval forms. The Hants place-name is recorded as on hwitan leas heal and þurh hwitan leashal in medieval documents; its origin is uncertain but it may derive from an earlier place-name *Hwītanlēa ‘at the white woodland’ (from Old English hwīt ‘white’ + lēah ‘wood woodland clearing’; dative hwītan + lēa) in the genitive *Hwītanlēas + Old English halh ‘nook corner of land’.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Whitnall family from?

You can see how Whitnall families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Whitnall family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Whitnall families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 129 Whitnall families living in Lancashire. This was about 33% of all the recorded Whitnall's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Whitnall families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Whitnall 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 Whitnall ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bus Driver and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Whitnall. 20% of Whitnall men worked as a Bus Driver and 83% of Whitnall women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Whitnall were Baker roundsman and Payroll Clerk.

View Census Data for Whitnall | 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

  • Bus Driver
    20%
  • Electrical Fitter wireman
    20%
  • Builders Labourer
    20%
  • Baker roundsman
    20%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    83%
  • Domestic Duties
    3%
  • Office Cleaner
    2%
  • Payroll Clerk
    2%

What Whitnall family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 8,000 census records available for the last name Whitnall. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Whitnall census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Whitnall

Passenger Lists

There are 620 immigration records available for the last name Whitnall. 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.

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Draft Cards

There are 413 military records available for the last name Whitnall. For the veterans among your Whitnall ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Whitnall lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2003, in the United States, Whitnall life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1986, and highest in 1981. The average life expectancy for Whitnall in 1963 was 77, and 84 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Whitnall

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Whitnall 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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