Surname Whitelock - Meaning and Origin

Whitelock: What does the surname Whitelock mean?

The last name Whitelock is an English surname derived from a location in Yorkshire, England. The literal meaning of Whitelock is “White Meadow.” This suggests that the original bearer of the name may have held land in or near a meadow with white flowering plants that grew in abundance.

The earliest known record of the Whitelock name dates back to 1153, with reference to a William de Wite locke. This is written in Latin, with "locke" meaning "meadow”.

It is probably likely that the origin of the surname Whitelock was simply a reference to the topographical feature or environment that embraced the original bearer. Specifically, these individuals may have held land that contained an abundance of a white-flowering plant. That physical feature set them apart from other families and communities, and allowed them to be referred to as people from the White Meadow.

The Whitelock surname has spread throughout the English-speaking world over the centuries. Variations of this name include Whitlock, Wattlock, Whetlock and Wetlock. It is also widely believed to be the foundation of other forms of the surname, such as Whitlock, and Whitlam.

Whitelock: Where does the name Whitelock come from?

The last name Whitelock today is most common in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. In the United Kingdom, the name is most common in Wales, where it is ranked as the ranked as the 322nd most common name according to the Office for National Statistics in 2018. England follows with the name being ranked at 1300th in the same year.

In the United States of America, the Whitelock surname is more common in the Southern and the Midwestern states, particularly North Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, and Tennessee. Here, the name is ranked as the 2716th most common surname according to the United States Census in 2018. It is also found in other parts of the country, including California, Arizona, Texas, and New York.

In Canada, the surname Whitelock is ranked at 6279th according to the 2016 Census, and is most common in the provinces of Ontario and Alberta.

Generally, the surname Whitelock is of English origin. It is believed to be a habitational surname derived from Whitlock in Shropshire, England. The surname may also be derived from personal characteristics such as the individual having white hair. It has since spread across various parts of the world with bearers of the name being found in countries that include Australia and South Africa.

Variations of the surname Whitelock

The surname Whitelock has several variants, spellings, and related family lines. Whitelock is an English locational surname derived from a place name meaning “white church.” Some of the variant spellings of Whitelock include Whitlok, Whitlocke, Whitlec, Whitloc, and Whitlek.

The related family lines of Whitelock are Wadlock, Whitham, Whetlock, and Whitfield. Wadlock is an variant of White-lock, and Whitham is a derivative of Withelm. Whetlock is a transformation of Whitelock after the pronunciation of the name was Anglicized, and Whitfield is derived from the place name “White Field.”

Other homophones of the surname Whitelock include Whiteaker, Whitaner, and Whitener. Whiteaker is an English surname possibly of occupational origin meaning “wheel-maker” or “wagon-maker.” Whitaner is also an occupational surname derived from “white-aner” or “white-arer,” someone who works with leather. Whitener is an English surname of locational origin from any of the places called Whitenor, Whitenour, Whitener, or Whiteinner.

The numerous variants, spellings, and related family lines of the surname Whitelock demonstrate just how many ways the name has been adapted over the years. Despite the many changes, Whitelock is an etymologically consistent English surname that has remained unchanged for centuries.

Famous people with the name Whitelock

• Kyle Whitelock: Professional snowboarder
• Jean Whitelock: British actress
• Zach Whitelock: Professional rugby player
• Blair Whitelock: Former MLB pitcher
• Brad Whitelock: Former NFL quarterback
• Debby Whitelock: Retired professional swimmer
• Earl Whitelock: Acclaimed nature poet
• Jeremiah Whitelock: Internationally renowned chef
• Anna Whitelock: English historian
• Stephen Whitelock: Award-winning photographer

Other surnames

Whitelocke