Surname Whiddon - Meaning and Origin

Whiddon: What does the surname Whiddon mean?

The last name Whiddon is of English origin, thought to be a habitation name derived from an English place. It is a diminutive of 'Widdon' which may refer to a bowed or winding valley, or to a settlement with a widden, or enclosure made of woven twigs or branches. This surname is believed to have originated in the West Country.

Whiddon appears to have its origin in a local tradition of the area in the West Country known as Little Widdon, with Whiddon being the geographical locational name. There are records of the name Whiddon in the 13th century in Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset.

Variant spellings of the name Whiddon can include Whiddupn, Whidden, Whidon, Whiddon, Whidun, Whiotun, Widdon, Whyotun, Whidon and Whigdin. It is commonly found in Sheffield, and can be an occupational name when referring to a maker of hides and processing of leather. The original bearer of the name Whiddon may have been a merchant or trader of hides and leather.

The name Whiddon is quite unique, as not many people have the same last name. This can be beneficial for those who are researching their family tree, as finding information is usually quite easily. The people with the name Whiddon are usually quite proud of their heritage and are often though of a strong willed, loyal, and witty individuals.

Whiddon: Where does the name Whiddon come from?

Today, the last name Whiddon is primarily found in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people with the surname Whiddon was estimated to be 1,611 in 2010. Of those people, the highest concentrations were in Texas (808), Georgia (290), and Florida (229). They can also be found in other states throughout the country, including Alabama, Arkansas, California, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and South Carolina.

The name can also be found elsewhere in the world, particularly in the United Kingdom. In the UK, the most common regions in which to find the surname are Cornwall and Devon. According to the 1881 British Census, the highest concentration of Whiddons in the UK were found in Cornwall. Other counties with notable numbers of Whiddons included Somerset, East Lindsey, and Birmingham.

The name is believed to be of Irish or Scottish descent and is thought to be derived from the Gaelic form of "Sheridan". In its original spelling, the name was O'Uidín which has changed over the years to its current form of Whiddon. It is also believed that the surname is related to the Irish surname Widder, with variations such as Widdon, Widders, and Whittemore.

No matter where in the world one finds the surname Whiddon today, it is clear that the name has a long and interesting history.

Variations of the surname Whiddon

The surname Whiddon is thought to originate from England. It is an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname that was derived from the personal name Wydda. Variations and spellings of the name include Widman, Widon, Whidman, Whidon, Widdon, Wydman, Wydon and Whiddon.

In terms of surnames, some of the Possible variants of the Whiddon family include Widmaier, Widmann, Weddman, Widemon, Weidemann, Widmer, Woodman, Wiedemann, Whidman, Wiedmann, Redman and Ridman.

The combination of consonantal sounds and vowel placement may also explain how the name Whiddon evolved over time, resulting in a range of different spellings and variants. For example, Wyddmann, a combination of consonant and vowel sounds, may have evolved into Widmann, then Widman, and might have eventually become Whiddon when the letter “h” replaced the letter “w”.

Other sound shifts, such as a variant of Widman to Wydman, also may explain some of the variations.

Overall, the physical and linguistic migrations of families and individuals over the centuries has resulted in the multitude of variants we now see for the surname Whiddon. As a result, there is a wealth of history and culture that has come with the changes to the spelling of the name over the centuries.

Famous people with the name Whiddon

• Travis Whiddon: Professional snowboarder who won a silver medal at the 2005 FIS Snowboarding World Championships
• Bruce Whiddon: Australian professional rugby league footballer who played for the Newcastle Knights, Leh Bandits and Balmain Tigers
• Hal Whiddon: American football player who played linebacker for the University of Florida
• Jerry Whiddon: British actor and director of the Tom Stoppard play The Real Thing
• Keith Whiddon: English actor, best known for his role as Lord Salisbury in The Crown
• Mark Whiddon: Retired English footballer who most notably played for Oxford United
• Robert Whiddon: Inventor and patent holder of radar technologies used by the United States Air Force
• William Whiddon: English clergyman and Canon of Sion College London
• Zopher Whiddon: American military officer of the American Revolutionary War

Other surnames

Whidden