Surname Whetton - Meaning and Origin
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Whetton: What does the surname Whetton mean?
The last name Whetton is an English surname derived from the place-name Whetstone. The place-name comes from the Old English words hwēt ("sharp") and stān ("stone"), thus literally translating as "sharp stone." It is believed that the surname originated in the area now known as Whetton, which was named after a very sharp stone found in the area.
The first recorded use of the name was in the eastern region of England, particularly in Norfolk and Suffolk. It is likely that the name was most closely associated with the ancient family from Norfolk, where the spelling of the name changed over the centuries. During the Middle Ages, the Whetton family held the manor of Bunwell, located east of Norwich.
Whetton names bearers tend to be people who demonstrate keen mental acuity and sharpness of thought. Many Whettons have made their mark in history, including Christopher Whetton, a nineteenth-century Belgian lawyer who became the first professor of international law at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium; and Sir John Whetton, a British World War II veteran who later became a prominent politician.
Today, the Whetton surname can still be found throughout the United Kingdom and Europe, as well as in parts of the United States and Canada.
Order DNA origin analysisWhetton: Where does the name Whetton come from?
The surname Whetton is of English origin, and is a surname rarely found anywhere in the world today. The name Whetton mainly occurs in Britain and Ireland, as well as in countries of the former British Commonwealth. In England, the name is largely confined to the counties of Devon and Cornwall in the south-west of the country. In Ireland, it is widely spread throughout the country.
In the United Sates, the number of Whettons is estimated to be in the hundreds. The highest concentrations are found in the states of California, Texas, Arizona and New York. Canada is also home to a significant number of Whettons, with Ontario and Alberta having the most. The Whetton name can be traced back to colonial times in the 1600s when settlers from England and Ireland first arrived in North America.
The Whetton surname is not especially common in any region of the world. In fact, the population of Whettons is small enough to be considered a rare name. It is always possible, however, to come across someone with the surname Whetton, as the population is still scattered throughout different parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Whetton
The surname Whetton is likely derived from the Old English given name Whette, which means "white" or "fair-haired." The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include: Whiton, Whetstone, Whyton, Whitton, Whytstone, Whaton, Wetton, Whitstone, Whetston, Wheaton, and Wetstone.
The surname Whetton may be found in the United Kingdom, particularly in the East Anglia region, and in Canada. It has also been established in the United States since colonial times, in part due to immigration from the British Isles to the first thirteen colonies.
The earliest recorded use of the spelling Whetstone dates to 1700 in England. A contemporary example is the English actor and comedienne, Alice Wetstone, who is renowned for her work in film and television.
The name Whetton may also be found in Australia, where it was established in the late 18th century by immigrants from England and Ireland. Immigrants from this period included convict Nathaniel Whetton, who was transported to Sydney in 1811 and served in the colony until his death in 1845.
By the 19th century, the name Whetton had also become established in South Africa. Examples include William Whetton, who was born in Cape Town in 1823, and his sister, Maria Whetton, who was born in 1825.
Today, the name Whetton is found in all parts of the world, including Antarctica, through the work of British Antarctic surveyor Mr. Adrian Whetton.
Famous people with the name Whetton
- Laura Whetton: Irish Olympian athlete who competed in numerous international and European level competitions.
- Phil Whetton: English association footballer who served as a goalkeeper for Darlington.
- Bruce Whetton: Australian rugby union player who played for the Wallabies from 1984 to 1995.
- Gavin Whetton: Australian hockey player who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics and 1998 Commonwealth Games.
- Sean Whetton: Australian rugby league player who played for the Canterbury Bulldogs and Penrith Panthers.
- Harry Whetton: English cricketer who played for the Kent County Cricket Club from 1984 to 1985.
- Cara Whetton: Australian women's cricket player who has played the sport since 2008.
- Glenn Whetton: New Zealand cricketer who played for the Auckland Aces from 1995 to 1996.
- Don Whetton: Australian art director who has contributed to films such as Mission Impossible 2 and Murder on the Orient Express.
- David Albert Whetton: English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Leicester South from 1974 to 1992.