Surname Whitmer - Meaning and Origin

Whitmer: What does the surname Whitmer mean?

The last name Whitmer is of English origin and comes from a nickname derived from the Old English phrase “whit swymer” which translates to “white swimmer.”

The surname could be applied to someone who was a literal swimmer with pale skin, or it might refer to a person who wore white when entering the water. It could also be a reference to the white swan. It is thought that it may have originally been applied to a person who had a long-distance swimming ability or excelled at a form of aquatic sporting activity.

The surname Whitmer could also refer to someone living close to a white stream or river. There is a Whitmoor Stream located in Devon, England and White Water Beck in the North Riding of Yorkshire.

In England, the Whitmers were originally concentrated in Yorkshire and Lancashire. In America, the first people to be named Whitmer were a Virginia family who first settled in Pennsylvania and migrated to Ohio. Many of the American family members attained political notability, including David Whitmer, a founder of the Latter Day Saint movement.

Today, the Whitmer family is distributed throughout the world, especially in the US and England. The surname is also popular in other English-speaking countries such as Canada, Australia, and South Africa.

Whitmer: Where does the name Whitmer come from?

The last name Whitmer is most commonly found in the United States. It is particularly concentrated in the Midwestern states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. According to the US Census Bureau, the surname Whitmer is spread across the country, with thousands of individuals bearing the name in all fifty states.

However, the concentration of Whitmer's is particularly high in Ohio. In fact, the 2020 US Census data reveals that the state of Ohio is home to more than 6,000 people with the Whitmer surname. In addition to Ohio, Pennsylvania is also home to a large number of Whitmer's, with over 5,000 in the state. Michigan also has over 4,000 Whitmer's in 2020.

It is thought that the Whitmer surname is of German origin, and most Whitmer's living in the US today can trace their ancestral roots to Germany. The Whitmer surname is likely derived from the German last name "Witmer", which was a toponymic name that derived from any of numerous places in Germany named with the combination of the Old German words “wit meaning white” and “mer meaning lake, pool, or moor”.

Overall, the Whitmer surname is most common in the Midwestern states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, though it can be found throughout the US in all fifty states. It is believed to have German origins, with the name derived from any of numerous places in Germany named with the combination of the Old German words “wit meaning white” and “mer meaning lake, pool, or moor”.

Variations of the surname Whitmer

The Whitmer family name has several variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. This name is most commonly spelled Whitmer, and it is sometimes seen spelled Whitmire, Whitman, Whitmore, Whitson, Whiteman, Whitmar, and Whitmier. Less common spellings include Wheetman, Wetman, Whiteman, and Wyetman. In some instances, the spelling of Whitmer can even be expanded to include Whitmarsh or Whitemarsh.

The Whitmer surname generally indicates English or German heritage depending on the spelling used. variant spellings of Whitmer may be Scottish, Irish, North American, German, Dutch or French.

In German and Dutch, Whitmer is derived from the German roots 'weit' and 'meer', and means 'wide sea'. In Dutch, its meaning is extended to the 'large seashore'.

In North American, Whitmore and Whitmire stem from Scottish roots and mean ‘white moor’. This is likely derived from the Old English word ‘haeg’ and the Old French word ‘moor,’ meaning ‘heath’ or ‘bog’.

The Whitaker surname is also related, deriving from the earldom of Whitacre, an area of the West Midlands in the U.K.. The surname has been modified over the years, beginning as Whytcacres in the 16th century, changing to Whitaker in the 17th century, and other forms later on.

In French, the Whitmer surname has roots in 'blanc', meaning white, and with the addition of 'mar', this indicates 'the marsh of white'.

Overall, the Whitmer surname has numerous origins, spellings, and forms, and is believed to stem from many different countries. Those with the surname can trace their ancestry and investigate all the different spellings.

Famous people with the name Whitmer

• Gretchen Whitmer: Gretchen Whitmer currently serves as the 49th governor of Michigan. Prior to her election, she served as a Democratic member of the Michigan Senate, representing Michigan's 23rd district.
• Thomas Whitmer: Thomas Whitmer was an 19th century American businessman, farmer, bank president, and state legislator in Winterset, Iowa.
• Bob Whitmer: Bob Whitmer is an American bassist from Phoenix, Arizona. He is best known for his work with popular country and rock artists like Charlie Daniels, Waylon Jennings, Guy Clark and Johnny Cash.
• David Whitmer: David Whitmer was an early convert to Mormonism, and one of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon's golden plates and the primary source of authority for the Latter Day Saint movement.
• William Whitmer: William Whitmer was a 19th century farmer, businessman, and politician in Van Wert County, Ohio, who served as a Democratic member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1874 to 1876.
• Winston Whitmer: Winston Whitmer is an American entrepreneur and venture capitalist. He is the founder and CEO of W2 Capital LLC, an early stage venture capital fund specializing in software, internet, services, and healthcare investments.
• Frank Whitmer: Frank Whitmer was an American Republican Party politician and member of the United States House of Representatives from Maryland's 6th congressional district from 1895 to 1897.
• Eric Whitmer: Eric Whitmer is an American attorney, banker, and political figure. He was the 40th Treasurer of the State of Michigan from 2015 to 2019.
• George Washington Whitmer: George Washington Whitmer was an American businessman, politician, and Whig joint-author of the Ohio Constitution of 1851.
• Jacob Whitmer: Jacob Whitmer was a 19th century American farmer, storekeeper and Democratic politician in Pennsylvania. He served seven terms in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, representing Philadelphia County from 1857-1858 and from 1860-1865.

Other surnames

WhitmanWhitmoreWhitmoyerWhitmyer