Surname Whitlocks - Meaning and Origin
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Whitlocks: What does the surname Whitlocks mean?
The last name Whitlocks is an English patronymic surname derived from the Middle English given name 'Witeloc', which in turn originated from the Old English 'Witelac'. 'Witelac' was a name derived from components meaning 'white' and 'lock', making it a descriptive name referring to 'a man with white hair'.
The name Whitlocks is fairly uncommon, but concentrated in certain parts of the British Isles such as Devon and Kent in England, and in Gloucestershire as well. It is also found in the former British colonies of Canada, USA, Australia, and New Zealand in small numbers.
The name Whitlocks is both an occupational and a locational surname, which indicate that its original bearer may have been someone who lived and/or worked in a place such as a 'secluded strip of white land' or a street called 'White Lock' or 'White Lock Street'. Whitlocks were also historically employed as weavers and in the cloth trades.
Today, the surname Whitlocks still bears a hint of its original descriptive meanings, highlighting the white-haired appearance of some of its bearers or perhaps evoking the pastoral rural English countryside of its original location-based roots.
Order DNA origin analysisWhitlocks: Where does the name Whitlocks come from?
The last name Whitlocks is most commonly found in the United States and the United Kingdom. It has been recorded in the census in a variety of counties including Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Durham, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Lincolnshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, and the West Riding of Yorkshire.
In the United States, the name Whitlocks has been found in the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. It can also be found in the southern states including North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas.
The surname Whitlocks is also found in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and parts of South America. It has been recorded in places such as Sydney, Tasmania, Auckland, Toronto, and the Caribbean Islands of Jamaica and Trinidad.
The Whitlock family can trace its roots back to the medieval period when it was found in several English and Scottish counties. It is believed that the name derived from the old English words 'hwit' and 'locan' which mean 'white enclosure'. At that time, it was likely a descriptive name for someone of a fair complexion who lived in a protected settlement or structure.
The most common spelling variations of Whitlocks include Whitlock, Whetlock, Whittle, and Whetley, with some having evolved integrated additional spellings such as Whitlee, Whetloe, and Wheatloe.
Variations of the surname Whitlocks
There are several variants and spellings for the surname Whitlocks, as well as surnames of similar origin.
Whitlock is the most commonly reported spelling of the surname, and is most likely the original spelling. This spelling is often seen in records from England and the United States. Whitlox and Whitlocke are also reported spellings, while Whitleck and Whitelock have been reported to the U.S. Census Bureau as variants of Whitlock.
Whitluck is an interesting variant that has been reported in records for both England and the United States, though it has never been reported in the U.S. Census Bureau. Some other interesting spellings include Whittleck, Whytlock, Wytlocke, and Wightlock.
Surnames of similar origin to Whitlocks include Witlock, Witlockes, Witlocke, Withlock, Whetlock, Wheatloke, Wimbletock, Whytlok, and Whitelock.
While Whitlocks is the most commonly reported spelling, the variants and surnames of similar origin provide an interesting glimpse into the past and the various ways in which surnames have evolved over time.
Famous people with the name Whitlocks
- Alan Whitlock: English former footballer
- Duncan Whitlock: English actor
- Mark Whitlock: British actor and director
- Lloyd Whitlock: American actor
- Wilfred Whitlock: English cricketer
- Yvonne Whitlock: Australian actor
- Melvin Whitlock: British actor
- Jenna Whitlock: American businesswoman
- Peter Whitlock: American entrepreneur
- Matthew Whitlock: American astronaut