Surname Whiting - Meaning and Origin

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W. Whiting

Whiting: What does the surname Whiting mean?

The last name of Whiting is believed to be derived from the Old English word ‘hwiting’, meaning ‘white one’. This refers to a person with very pale features such as blond hair or pale skin. In some cases, it could even be a nickname for a person who wears a white ribbon as a sign of purity or allegiance. Other variants of the name include Whyte, Waiting, and Whiten.

The name was relatively common in England and Ireland, with many members of the Whiting family in the 14th century. In the 16th century, some of the family members made their way to America; they were among the earliest settlers of Plymouth, the first permanent European settlement in America.

Whiting is a very old name, with numerous families bearing the name in various locations in Europe and beyond. Its association with a white-haired person likely inspired various uses of the name in the media—for example, the character of ‘Doctor Whiting’ in the television series Doctor Who.

Whiting is also a place name, as there are towns named Whiting or Whitings in various parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland. As an interesting side note, there is also a small English village called Pogmoor that contains a ‘Whiting Street’.

It is a name with a long and varied history, suggesting its deep-rootedness in both England and America and a connection with white-haired people. Its adoption as a surname suggests a long and proud history of the Whiting family.

Whiting: Where does the name Whiting come from?

The last name Whiting is most commonly found in the United States and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the last name Whiting is most common in the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. In Massachusetts, the town of Ipswich was previously known as Agawam, the "place of the Whiting" due to its large population of Whiting families.

The Whiting family can also be found in the United Kingdom, where the name derives from the Anglo-Saxon personal name "Hwita" or "Whit". The most concentrated regions include West Yorkshire, Kent, and Surrey.

In addition, the last name Whiting has also been adopted in other parts of Europe and other countries around the world, particularly Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The Whiting family has spread all around the world across centuries and many generations, and its legacy remains strong today.

Variations of the surname Whiting

The surname Whiting is derived from a location-based surname for someone who originated in Whiting, England. In England, it was mainly found in the eastern counties, specifically Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk. Variants of this surname include Whitting, Whitinge, Howting, Whitingham, Whiteing, and Witting.

The earliest known record of the surname in England was William de Wintering. He was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of 1274, in Oxfordshire. Variations of the surname were also found in Scotland during the 16th century. Duncan Whyting was recorded in the taxation records of the burgh of Crail at Fife in 1628.

In the United States, the surname can also be seen as variants of White, Whitin(g), Whitinck, and Whitacre. The first Whiting to settle in the United States was William and Alexander Whiting, who arrived in Virginia in 1623. The family later spread throughout the eastern seaboard, and then to the Midwest and South. Some in the South added an extra 'e' to the name, creating Whyting.

Throughout the world, various spellings and pockets of the population still carry the surname Whiting and it's variants. Though relatively uncommon, the name is still carried by many, continuing the legacy of a family that began in the small town of Whiting, in England.

Famous people with the name Whiting

• Alfred Whiting: was an English politician and businessman.
• Brad Whiting: was an American football player.
• Clive Whiting: was a British TV presenter.
• Dan Whiting: was an American professional baseball player.
• George Whiting: was an American soldier and Medal of Honor recipient.
• Harry Whiting: was an English cricketer.
• John Whiting: was an American playwright and screenwriter.
• Judith Whiting: was an American author and historian.
• Katie Whiting: was an American photographer.
• Marina Whiting: was an American singer and songwriter.
• Robert Whiting: was an English historian.
• Sidney Whiting: was an American geologist.
• Stephen Whiting: was an American actor.
• Timothy Whiting: was an American author and lecturer.
• Warren Whiting: was an American politician and mayor of Omaha, Nebraska.

Other surnames

Whitis