Surname Whitehurst - Meaning and Origin
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Unravelling My Ancestral Journey: How DNA Testing at iGENEA Uncovered Unexpected Truths about My Whitehurst Lineage
Taking the plunge, I agreed to have my DNA tested at iGENEA, hoping to shed light on my ancestral roots, specifically my family's Whitehurst lineage. The journey that unfolded was filled with unexpected turns, teaching me more than just my genealogy and altering my understanding of self.
W. Whitehurst
read moreWhitehurst: What does the surname Whitehurst mean?
The last name Whitehurst is an English occupational surname derived from Old English words, meaning “a dweller at a white house or farm.” It is believed to have first appeared in the 12th century in East Anglia, England.
Those bearing the Whitehurst surname are descended from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when the Whitehurst family lived in a region referred to as "Whitehurst," referring to the English word for a house or farm with white walls, and this indicates that the family was likely a tenant farmer there.
The name is still seen today in Britain, where it is most common in the counties of Essex, Lancashire, and Yorkshire. It is also quite popular in North America, especially in the United States. This is in part due to the great migration of English, Welsh, and Irish people to the region in the 1700s and 1800s.
Families of the Whitehurst surname, and variations such as Whitfield, Whitford, and Whitefoot, have left a lasting impression on nations all over the world. The surname is one that is proud of its heritage, and those bearing it are no strangers to hard work.
Nowadays, people with the Whitehurst last name are shared members of a larger family that value their roots and strive to pass on their legacy to coming generations.
Order DNA origin analysisWhitehurst: Where does the name Whitehurst come from?
The surname Whitehurst can be found in many countries around the world today, most commonly in the United States, England, and Australia.
In the United States, Whitehurst can be found throughout much of the country, though it is most commonly found in the South. States like Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Georgia are some of the most prominent states in the US where the surname can be found. The largest concentration of people with the Whitehurst surname can be found in the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
In England, Whitehurst can be found in counties like Lancashire, Derbyshire, Devon, and Yorkshire. It is most commonly found in the city of Manchester.
In Australia, Whitehurst is relatively rare. The largest concentrations of people sharing the surname can be found in South Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, and Victoria.
With its origins in the British Isles, the Whitehurst surname has spread around the world with descendants of those original Whitehurst families now living in many different countries.
Variations of the surname Whitehurst
The surname Whitehurst has many variations in its spelling and surnames of the same origin. These variations include Whithead, Whitheart, Whiteheart, Whitard, Whetard or Whethead, Whithouse, Wightman, Whitehirst, Whitehurst, Whitson, Whytehead, Wighthead, Withey and Wastall.
The surname Whithead or Whitheart is the original spelling of the name. It is derived from the Old English words hwit (white) and heort (heart). This suggests that the name originates from a nickname, given to someone with a pale complexion or white hair.
The Whithouse variation of the surname appears to originate from a place name, in which the family originally lived. Similarly, the Wightman variation of the name derived from towns, such as Wightman House in Worcestershire, Wightman Street in Shoreditch and perhaps other locations of the same name.
The Whitehirst is a variation on the spelling of Whitehurst and could indicate that the surname originated from a place with a similar name. The Whitehurst, Whitson and Whytehead variations of the surname share the same origin and is derived from the Old English words hwit and hyrst or horsce. This indicates that the surname is derived from a place named 'Whitehirst' or an occupational name associated with huts made from small branches.
The Whetard or Whethead surname may also have evolved from the Old English words hwite and eard. This suggests that the family originally lived by a white bank or earthwork. Another variation, Wighthead, could have originated from a place name, in which the family was believed to have resided at some point in its earlier history.
The Withey variation is a spelling variation of Wighthead. Lastly, Wastall is most likely a corruption of Whitehirst, where the letter ‘t’ was inadvertently replaced with an ‘s’.
Famous people with the name Whitehurst
- J.C Whitehurst: Football Player for the Oakland Raiders and the Atlanta Falcons.
- Charles Whitehurst: Football Player for the San Diego Chargers, Tennessee Titans, and Indianapolis Colts.
- Sidney Whitehurst: U.S. Folk Artist
- David Mason Whitehurst: Football Player for the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, and Detroit Lions.
- D.H Whitehurst Sr.: Politician from Missouri and Lieutenant Governor of the state.
- John Whitehurst: English inventor and clockmaker
- Jeffrey Whitehurst: Former U.S. Ambassador to Qatar and current President of the American University of Iraq-Sulaimani
- Richard Whitehurst: American CBGB artist
- Jack Whitehurst: American radio host, actor, and producer
- Robert Whitehurst: Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force