Whitmore

Whitmore is both a surname and a place name of English origin. It is found in Britain and in other English-speaking countries, where it was carried by settlers and migrants. The name is borne by numerous individuals and by geographic locations that adopted it as a toponym.

The name derives from Old English elements hwīt meaning white and mōr meaning moor, marsh, or bog. Thus, Whitmore likely originally described a place characterized by a pale landscape feature, and it appears in early medieval land records under various spellings.

As a place name, Whitmore appears in England, including a village and civil parish in Staffordshire. In North America, the name has been used for several settlements and geographic features, reflecting British colonial naming practices. In both cases, the name often indicates a landscape feature rather than a person.

Whitmore has long been used as a surname in England and in countries with ties to English-speaking populations. It is associated with a variety of lineages and has produced many descendants in professional and public life, though no single family dominates.