Surname Whitesides - Meaning and Origin

Whitesides: What does the surname Whitesides mean?

The etymology of the last name Whitesides is uncertain, and several origin stories have been speculated. The most common theorized origin is that the name derived from a geographic location in Britain, specifically from the area of Wales known as Whitefield. The name is believed to have been given to settlers who had hailing from this area who immigrated to the US, Canada, and Australia.

Another theory suggests the name is derived from the Celtic term "white sides" which refers to a section of land surrounded by white stones along the riverbank. This could have been an adopted name referring to a fertile east-west – or "white side"-shaped area of land that a family had settled on.

The surname Whitesides is widely dispersed around the English-speaking world, with the largest numbers found in the UK, US, and Australia, and is occasionally found in other countries as well. It is a fairly common last name, with most of its current bearers being direct descendants of those original Whitesides families who migrated to the Western world. Although its exact meaning and origin are unknown, the Whitesides surname is still recognized today and stands as a tribute to the use of surnames to trace family histories.

Whitesides: Where does the name Whitesides come from?

The last name Whitesides is a common surname today primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom. The surname is of Scottish origin, with its earliest known history tracing back to Angus Whitehouse in 1240. There are currently more than 155,000 Whitesides in the US alone, with large concentrations in Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, and Tennessee. The most recent US Census found the highest densities of Whitesides in the Stone Mountain, Georgia area.

Outside of the US, the last name Whitesides is also found in Northern Ireland. Here, the surname is primarily concentrated in areas around Belfast, Antrim, and northeast Fermanagh, where Whitesides often trace their lineage to Scotland and England.

The Whitesides last name is also found around the world, with some notable occurrences in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In recent decades, more Whitesides have immigrated to countries around the world, especially in South America and Africa.

Whitesides is a popular last name today, found in numerous countries and regions. The surname's tradition can be traced back hundreds of years, making it a common legacy among families and individuals across nations.

Variations of the surname Whitesides

The Whiteside surname is said to have originated in Scotland in the early 12th century. The earliest known spelling of the name was Wighard or Wihard, which eventually changed to White-side or Whiteside over time.

Variant spellings of the Whiteside surname include Whitiside, Whitsides, Whitestide, Whiteside, Whitseye, Whitseide, Whitseyde, Whitehead, and Whitehurst. These variations most likely emerged in Scotland when names were recorded for the first time from the 12th to the 16th centuries, and some of them may have been due to accidental transcription errors. For instance, Whitseye and Whitseyde may have been the original spellings of the surname, later corrupted to Whiteside.

In Germany and other European countries, the Whiteside surname can also be found with a variety of spellings, such as Whitesied, Wiedeside, Weideside, and Wiedside.

Whitesides is also used as a surname in places such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, mainly due to immigrants from Scotland. The surname is often associated with people from English, Irish, and Scottish ethnic backgrounds. Related surnames of the same origin include Whitacre, Whitaker, Whiteley, Whitsell, Whiting, and Whitworth.

Famous people with the name Whitesides

• George Whitesides: American chemist and professor at Harvard University, a pioneer in the field of soft lithography.
• William Whitesides: American computer scientist best known for secure email technology.
• Henry Whitesides: American chemist at Harvard University and a leader in soft lithography research.
• Bill Whitesides: NASA astronaut and shuttle commander.
• Martha Whitesides: NASA planetary scientist who worked on the Galileo mission to Jupiter.
• Leonard Whitesides: American professor emeritus of philosophy at Brown University.
• Charles Whitesides: American physicist at Harvard University who specializes in nanotechnology.
• Eleanor Whitesides: British physicist and professor at Gresham College in London.
• Sue Whitesides: Canadian astronaut and first female Canadian to walk in space.
• David Whitesides: British actor known for his roles in films such as The Saint, The Avengers and Sherlock Holmes.
• Paul Whitesides: American engineer and entrepreneur best known for his investment in the now-defunct startup Juicero.
• Jim Whitesides: American politician and the former mayor of Roanoke, Virginia.
• Linda Whitesides: Canadian businesswoman and former CEO of the Royal Bank of Canada.
• Charles Whitesides Jr.: American politician, former mayor of Herrin, Illinois, and current member of the Illinois House of Representatives.
• Andrew Whitesides: American physicist and professor at Princeton University, specializing in quantum computing.

Other surnames

Whiteside