Whitaker

Whitaker is a surname of English origin and a place name used in several locales in the United Kingdom and beyond. The name most likely derives from a habitational origin, formed from Old English elements that are commonly interpreted as meaning “white” and “acre” or “clearing,” and it has come to be borne by many families in English-speaking countries.

As a surname, Whitaker has been carried by numerous individuals across a range of professions, including the arts, sciences, and public life, reflecting its long history and broad geographic distribution. The name is also associated with various places and institutions that took their name from local Whitaker origins or from families bearing the surname.

One notable use of the name in publishing is Whitaker's Almanack, a long-standing British annual reference work founded by Joseph Whitaker. The almanac provides concise information on government, geography, statistics, and notable current affairs, and it has been published for many decades as a standard reference in the United Kingdom.

In addition to people and publications, Whitaker appears in place names, streets, and organizational titles, illustrating how a surname can become a broader geographic and cultural marker. The term may refer to different, unrelated entities depending on the context, so disambiguation is often useful when encountering it in text.