Whitmer
A surname most likely built from the color term white and an old personal or place-name element, giving it the feel of an English descriptive surname.
The #6,398 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 58,068 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Whitmer is not a single, firmly settled surname etymology. In English contexts it is often explained as a variant spelling or Anglicized form related to surnames built on Old English \"hwit\" meaning \"white,\" combined with a second element that may once have referred to a person, place, or occupation. In German-speaking contexts, Whitmer can also reflect altered spelling of surnames such as Widemer or Wiedmer, which are themselves tied to place-names or older personal-name forms. Because the name appears in several spelling traditions, its exact root can vary by family line.
History
In the United States, Whitmer is found chiefly as a family name of German or English immigrant background, with spellings often shifting after migration. The form is relatively uncommon but established in North American records, and it is best treated as a surname with multiple possible origins rather than a single universal derivation. Local family history is often needed to determine which source applies to a particular Whitmer line.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The name is especially well known in modern America because of prominent public figures bearing the Whitmer surname, which has helped keep the spelling visible despite its relative rarity.