Origin of the Witherspoon Surname
The Witherspoon surname is of African American origin (English). In the 2010 U.S. Census it ranked #2,736 with 13,171 Americans (4.47 per 100K people).
What the name meant to the first families who bore it — and how Witherspoon traveled across regions and centuries — is written out in the full Heritage Report.
Quick Facts
| Surname | Witherspoon |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Full etymology in the Heritage Report |
| Origin | African American |
| Language | English |
| US Rank (2010) | #2,736 |
| US Count (2010) | 13,171 |
| Per 100K People | 4.47 |
| First Letter | W |
Ethnic Distribution of Witherspoon
Among 13,171 Americans named Witherspoon, the largest self-reported group is Black (62.08%).
The full multi-group chart (every percentage, print-ready) is inside the Heritage Report — not repeated here.
Popularity of Witherspoon Over Time
Between the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census, the national rank of Witherspoon moved down. Exact counts for both years — print-ready — are in the Heritage Report.
Where did the Witherspoon family really come from?
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The Complete Story of the Witherspoon Family
What you’ve read above is just the overview. Your full Witherspoon Heritage Report goes far deeper — and it’s yours to keep, print & share with your family.
- ✓ The true origin & meaning of Witherspoon
- ✓ The Witherspoon coat of arms & heraldry
- ✓ Migration journey across the world
- ✓ Where Witherspoon families live today
- ✓ Notable Witherspoon bearers in history
- ✓ Name variations & spellings worldwide
- ✓ A step-by-step guide to start tracing your own family tree
🎁 A heritage keepsake to pass down — perfect as a gift.
Get one Witherspoon fact most families never hear by email — a teaser, not the full etymology (that’s in the report).
Similar Surnames to Witherspoon
These surnames share similar popularity, spelling, or cultural background with Witherspoon.
Other African American Surnames
Explore more surnames with African American roots. There are 162,254 surnames in our database — here are some that share the same African American origin as Witherspoon.
Frequently Asked Questions About Witherspoon
Top Surnames Starting with W
The most common American surnames that begin with the letter W, ranked by population.
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