Surname Whitlark - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Whitlark: What does the surname Whitlark mean?
The last name Whitlark is of English origin and is believed to belong to a family of Norman-English descent. The name refers to a person who came down from the white cliffs, which is a reference to the white chalk cliffs found along the coastlines of the English Channel.
The name Whitlark is derived from the 12th-century Old English words "hwit" meaning "white," and "læcer," meaning "cliff." People with the Whitlark surname were believed to have initially settled in the south of England, specifically in counties such as Dorset and Hampshire, which border the English Channel and are well known for their white cliffs.
These white cliffs were a distinctive feature of the landscape and offered those who settled on their shores a degree of protection from potential invaders such as the Vikings. After establishing themselves, those with the Whitlark surname began to spread throughout England and were recorded in The Domesday Book.
The Whitlark surname is now widely distributed throughout Europe and the United States. A number of families bearing the Whitlark name still exist in England and are connected to the original Norman-English settlers. Those with the Whitlark surname are now found in various occupations and social classes, all across the world.
Order DNA origin analysisWhitlark: Where does the name Whitlark come from?
The last name Whitlark is not very common today, however there are still many people around the world who bear this surname. According to recent research, the last name Whitlark is most prevalently found in the United States, with approximately 4,600 people bearing the name. In the United Kingdom, the name is listed as the 3,099th most common surname in the country.
Research suggests that this surname is of English origin, derived from the Old English personal name “Hwitlac”. The original spelling of Whitlark, however, was usually "Whitlock". Variations of this surname include Whiteacre, Whitacre, Whitaker and Whiteaker. People bearing this surname were thought to have dwelled near a white acre—a patch of land with a covering of bright white soil.
The Whitlark surname is still visible today, with many bearing the name found amongst census data in the United States today. The name can also be found in parts of Europe, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, suggesting that this surname has travelled throughout the world over the course of several generations.
Variations of the surname Whitlark
Whitlark is a surname of English origin. It is derived from the Old English personal name Hwitlac, which is composed of two elements: hwit meaning “white” – and lāc meaning “play”, “contest” or “battle”. Variants of Whitlark include Whitlock, Whitelock, Whitlox, Witlock, Witlox, and Whetlak, as well as Whitlaw and Withlock. Spellings for Whitlark include Witlark, Whettlark, Whittlark, Whitelark, Whettelarke, Whatlark, and Whettlairke.
Surnames derived from Whitlark include Whitlar, Whitlark, Whitelar, Whittlar, Whitelarke, Whetlar, Whatlar, and Whettlar. Similarly, the surnames Withlak, Wilock, Whetlaic, and Withlack are derived from Whitlark.
The Whitlark surname has also spawned several naturalized versions of itself. These include Whitelek, Whiteley, Whitlake, Whetlake, and Whitlaik. There are also variants that are rendered phonetically, such as Whittlak, Whetalake, and Whetelak.
Overall, Whitlark is an old English surname with many variants, spellings, and derivatives. It is derived from an Old English personal name that means “white play” or “white contest”. Variants, spellings, and surnames derived from Whitlark create a broad and diverse family name.
Famous people with the name Whitlark
- Lauren Whitlark: American beauty pageant titleholder, Miss Arizona USA 2017
- Allen Whitlark: American academic, poet, and author
- Kyle Whitlark: American professional soccer player
- Robert Whitlark: former American football coach
- Jerry Whitlark: former American college football player
- Frank Whitlark: American politician and former mayor of Miami
- Mackenzie Whitlark: American actress
- Scott Whitlark: American artist, sculptor, and former D.C. commissioner
- David Whitlark: American actor
- Michael Whitlark: American saxophonist and composer