Surname Whitlocke - Meaning and Origin
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Whitlocke: What does the surname Whitlocke mean?
The last name Whitlocke is of English origin and is believed to have been derived from the Old English personal name "Whiteloc," which was a combination of the words "whit," meaning "white," and "loc," meaning "dwelling." Over time, it became Whitlock, Whitlocke and Whitelock. It is also thought to be an occupational surname, derived from the occupation of "white-lock," which is an old phrase for wool-carder or spinner. During early medieval times, Whitlocke was a very popular surname. It was most common in the counties of Yorkshire, Wiltshire, Shropshire, Cambridge and Hampshire. In the Domesday Book of 1086, the name Whitlocke was recorded in Lincolnshire, England.
The Whitlocke family name has been associated with great people and historical figures. Some notable people who have the Whitlocke name are Sir Orlando Whitlocke (1561 – 1632), an English lawyer and jurist; Thomas Whitlocke (1728 – 1812), a British soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War; Andrew Whitlocke (1715 – 1799), an English politician; and William Whitlocke (1819 – 1897), an English-born Australian merchant.
Today, the Whitlocke surname is still very popular in many countries across the world, notably in England, the United States, Australia, and Canada. It is a proud name that has been passed down through generations and represents a history of strength and resilience.
Order DNA origin analysisWhitlocke: Where does the name Whitlocke come from?
The last name Whitlocke is commonly found today in the United States and Canada, as well as in parts of England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand. It was derived from the Old English word "hwītelōc," which means "whitebara" and was likely a descriptive name for someone with light-colored hair. The name Whitlocke is believed to have first appeared in England as early as the 12th century, when William de Hwytelok was listed in the Pipe Rolls of the county of Kent.
In the United States, the Whitlocke family is strongest in the states of West Virginia and Kentucky. By the 1880s, the surname was particularly prominent in the city of Lewisburg, West Virginia. The first recorded Whitlocke immigrants to America came from the city of London in the late 1600s. Since then, the surname has spread throughout the United States and the New World. In Canada, it is most commonly found in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.
Although the Whitlocke name has a long and noble history, its prominence today is a bit more limited. Aside from a small community in England, it appears to be largely confined to countries of the English-speaking world. Today it is still a relatively uncommon name, one that will likely become even less common in the future.
Variations of the surname Whitlocke
The surname Whitlocke is a patronymic surname originated from the English personal name Whitloch. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin derived from Whitlocke are Whitlock, Whytlok, Whitely, Wightlocke, Whitlecke, Whitelock, Wyllok, Wytleoke, Wytlok, Witlok, Wightlok, and Whitehack.
The surname Whitlocke was found in 13th century records. It belongs to the class of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. It is most likely derived from a place-name believed to be located in Shropshire, England, where William de Whitlok was listed in 1255. In 1297 Willelmus Wytleoke was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk, and in 1324 Alicia Wythlok was listed in Norfolk.
The spelling of the surname Whitlocke has since changed throughout the centuries, most notably becoming Whitlock and Whitely until modern times. In 1524, Willelmus Whitelock was listed in Lancaster, and in 1559 John Whitehack was listed in Lancashire. In 1635 Anthony Whitlock was included in the “Bartholomew's Survey of Oxford”, and in 1690 Sarah Whitly was listed in London, England.
The variations in the spellings are likely due to the simplicity of spelling, which was not standardized during ancient times. Many of the same letters and sounds remain today, although the spelling of Whitlocke has been altered to Whitlock over time. Therefore, the spelling variants of the surname Whitlocke include Whitlock, Whytlok, Whitely, Wightlocke, Whitlecke, Whitelock, Wyllok, Wytleoke, Wytlok, Witlok, Wightlok and Whitehack.
Famous people with the name Whitlocke
- Beatrix Whitlocke: a former professional British tennis player.
- Sir Bulstrode Whitelocke: an English lawyer, politician and writer.
- Arthur Whitelocke- a 16th century English lawyer and judge in Ireland and the Clerical Mentor to Queen Mary II.
- John Whitelocke: a British naval Captain who took part in the Battle of Trafalgar.
- Jedediah Whitlocke: a 17th century English painter who was a specialist in portraiture.
- Sir William Whitelocke: an 18th century English politician, lawyer and author of a famous book on international law.
- William Whitelocke: a 16th century English lawyer and politician.
- John Whitelocke- a 17th century Member of Parliament and High Sheriff of Surrey.
- Hugh Whitelocke: a 19th century English politician and a Chancellor of the Exchequer.
- Robert Whitelocke: a 17th century English lawyer and politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Lynn.