Surname Whitney - Meaning and Origin

Whitney: What does the surname Whitney mean?

The last name Whitney is of English origins and is derived from a place-name associated with a parish and a small village located in Herefordshire, England. The name Whitney is a topographical name given to someone who either lived near a hill with a white appearance or a meadow where white flowers were found.

In some cases, The name Whitney is a variation of a non-English name, such as Whitney, which is derived from the Germanic name Whytney, which means “white island”. The Whitney name is also found in Ireland, and is likely connected to an old Gaelic name O’Fithcheallain from the phrase “O’ Fíthcheallán”, which is thought to mean “descendant of the white soldier”.

In early records the name Whitney is found as Whiteneye, Whitenight, Whitney, Withney, Whitny, Witney, and Whytney. Over the years these variants became associated with the surname Whitney.

In the United States, the surname Whitney became a popular family name among the Colonial English and early American settlers. By the 1880 census, the Whitney surname was the 27th most common name in the country.

Today, the surname Whitney is found all over the world with many people connected to an interesting and unique history.

Whitney: Where does the name Whitney come from?

The last name Whitney is commonly found in the United States, particularly in the Northeast region. It is particularly concentrated in Massachusetts, where the first settlers using this name appeared in the 1640s.

The name is also found in large numbers in New York and in the New England area. People with this name can be found in some fringe states like Maine, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Vermont. The largest concentration is in California, followed closely by Michigan, North Carolina, and Texas.

Outside of the US, people with the last name Whitney are found mainly in Canada, particularly in Ontario and Quebec. Additionally, it is common in the UK and Ireland, particularly in London and its march counties.

The name Whitney can be found throughout the world, from Japan and South Korea all the way to Jamaica and the Caribbean islands. With globalization, more people are moving around and names can often cross borders, so finding a Whitney in almost any part of the world is a possibility.

Variations of the surname Whitney

The surname Whitney, which originated from the Old English term 'whit taluc', translates to mean 'white meadow'. This surname is used by a variety of families throughout England, Wales, Ireland, and North America following its first documented recording in 1296 in England.

Variant spellings for Whitney include Whitny, Whitnie, Whitnee, and Whitnye; and historically, the name has also been seen as Whitnei, Whitneigh, Whitneighe, Whittney, Whitteney, and Witney.

The surname Whitney is often associated with variants stemming from patronymic changes, like Wuittney, Whitting, Whiten, or Whitny. Variants of Irish and Scottish origin include MacWhitty, MacWhiting, MacWhitney, and Whittey. Alternatively, variations of the Welsh name Pritchard, such as Pricard or Prichard, have been adopted throughout generations of the Whitney family.

In American culture, some forms for the Whitney surname have been adjusted, such as Whitley, Whitly, Whitleigh, Whitting, Wittney, Prittney, and Rytting. Adjustments have also been made to surnames given specific geographic locations throughout the United States, like Whitneigh of Massachusetts and Whitneil of Maine.

Regardless of its various spellings and surnames, the Whitney family has continued to grow and spread globally throughout the centuries.

Famous people with the name Whitney

• Bobby Whitney: actor best known for his appearance in The Hills Have Eyes.
• Jon Whitney: professional footballer for Stevenage.
• Whitney Houston: singer, actress and producer.
• Stephen Whitney: American lawyer and politician.
• Michael Whitney: political journalist.
• Henry Whitney: American field marshal and aristocrat.
• John Russell Whitney: American businessman and politician.
• Harry Payne Whitney: American businessman and thoroughbred racehorse owner.
• Kate Whitney: English artist.
• Nora Whitney: American silent film actress.
• Eric Whitney: English actor.
• Paul Whitney: Australian cricketer.
• Cissy Houston: American singer, mother of Whitney Houston.
• Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney: American sculptor, art patron and philanthropist.
• Augustine Heard: Businessman and philanthropist.
• Geoffrey Whitney: American poet.
• Debbie Whitney: politician, environmentalist and civil rights activist.
• Alexis Whitney: actress best known for her role in Law & Order.
• Cody Whitney: former professional hockey player.
• Dan Whitney: American comedian better known by his stage name Larry the Cable Guy.

Other surnames

Whitny