Whitneys

Whitneys is the plural form of the surname Whitney. It can refer to multiple people bearing the name or, less commonly, to places that carry the Whitney name, typically named after individuals with that surname.

The surname Whitney derives from an English toponym, with roots in Old English elements. The name is common in the United States and the United Kingdom, and Whitneys have appeared in business, politics, science, and the arts since the 18th century.

Notable individuals with the surname include Eli Whitney (1765–1825), inventor of the cotton gin; Whitney Houston (1963–2012), singer and actress; and Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney (1875–1942), sculptor and patron who founded the Whitney Museum of American Art. The Whitney name has also appeared in various philanthropic and industrial contexts, often associated with prominent families in American history.

In scholarly and popular usage, Whitneys refer to people who share the surname and, on occasion, to places or institutions named for someone with that name. The term is primarily encountered in genealogical, historical, and biographical contexts, reflecting the broader cultural and geographic footprint of the Whitney surname.