Surname Whetene - Meaning and Origin
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Whetene: What does the surname Whetene mean?
The surname Whetene is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English "hwetan" ("to whet," or sharpen). The name may have originally referred to an occupation associated with sharpening tools, or someone who lived near a whetstone.
The Whetene spelling was first found in Cheshire, England in 1285 when "Jordan de Whytney" was recorded there in the Pipe Rolls. Later variations of the surname include Wheteney, Wetney, Whiten, and Whyte.
The Whetene surname also appears in the United States: in 1663, records show that Captain William Whitene was one of the original settlers of New Amsterdam (later known as New York).
Whetene family members have since spread to various other parts of the world, from the United States to Australia. Whetene itself is a very rare surname – it is not in the top 1000 surnames in England, and is even rarer in the US, with just over 500 people carrying the spelling.
Today, the Whetene family can be proud of their heritage, recognizing the hardworking, industrious nature of their ancestors that has helped make them the successful people they are today.
Order DNA origin analysisWhetene: Where does the name Whetene come from?
The last name Whetene is most commonly found today in the United Kingdom. It was an uncommon name several centuries ago, but it is much more popular today. According to one source, 42 individuals with the surname Whetene currently reside in the UK.
Most individuals with the Whetene surname likely trace their roots back to the English city of Leicester in the English Midlands. The first use of the Whetene name appears to have been in 1705 when Edmund Whetene was listed as a Church Warden of Little Stretton in Leicester. It is most likely that this family of Whetenes had ancestors in the area long before this date.
The Whetene surname has also spread outside of the UK into the United States and Canada. The earliest example of this migration was William Whetene, who arrived in the US from England in 1820. Similarly, records show John Whetene as arriving in Canada from England in 1854.
Today, the Whetene name is still relatively uncommon, but it has certainly become more widespread than it was several hundred years ago. Most individuals with the Whetene surname can trace their roots back to the English Midlands, and some have spread to other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Whetene
The surname Whetene, also known as Wetene, Whetin, Whitin and Wetine, is of Scottish origin, deriving from the old Gaelic term “giuthan”, meaning “high-spirited”. The name was found mainly in East Lothian, Scotland, and is thought to have first appeared in the 12th century. Subsequently, the surname has been found in various spellings, including Whetine, Whetan, Weten, Wetine, Whetin and Whitten.
The surname Whetene is most likely to have been adopted by an individual as a sign of respect for their ancestor who was of high-born status or whose parent was a high-ranking person in the area. Alternatively, it could have been adopted by a family as a way to symbolize devotion to their land and ancestors.
In Scotland, a number of other variants of the Whetene surname are encountered. These include Whetanay, Whatean, Whetham, Whetney and Whateen. Additionally, the variant spelling of Wethen is also found in Scotland, according to the FamilySearch website.
The surname Whetene can be found in other parts of Britain such as England and Wales, and also in the United States. The English variant “Whitin” could be a derivative as “white” in English has a similar meaning as “high-spirited” in Gaelic. Similarly, the surname “Whetney” may have the same double-meaning.
In the United States, common variants of the Whetene surname are Whitten, Whitman, and Wethen. Additionally, different spellings of Whitten, such as Whiten and Whitin, are often found as well.
Overall, the Whetene surname has had a lengthy and varied history, with an array of variants in spellings as well as an exploration of different countries such as Scotland, England, Wales and the United States.
Famous people with the name Whetene
1. Audrey Whetstone, American actress and film producer. 2.Henry Whetene, English MP for Gloucester in 1410. 3.George Whetene, Canadian lawyer. 4.Scott Whetene, Australian musician. 5.Ellery Whetene, American artist. 6.William Whetene, English academic and historiologist. 7.Patrick Whetene, Irish doctor. 8.Clarence Whetene, American World War II veteran. 9.Miles Whetene, American Olympic diver. 10.Richard Whetene, British botanist. 11.John Whetene, American Nobel Prize-winning physicist. 12.Rebecca Whetene, British author and journalist. 13.Stanley Whetene, American banker and financial expert. 14.Arthur Whetene, American soldier and Medal of Honor recipient. 15.Giles Whetene, British-born author and novelist.