Wilhite
A likely English surname that began as a local or descriptive name, later stabilized in American spelling as Wilhite.
The #4,261 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 37,087 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Wilhite is generally treated as an English surname, but its exact origin is not certain from standard surname dictionaries. It is probably a later American spelling of a name built on the element Wil-, from a personal name such as William, combined with a second element that was altered in pronunciation or spelling over time. In many cases like this, the modern form reflects regional pronunciation more than a single fixed medieval spelling.
History
The surname is most familiar in the United States, where it appears in several related spelling forms. As with many Anglo-American surnames, the present spelling likely became fixed only after families migrated and local clerks recorded the name phonetically. Because the name is uncommon, its early documentary trail is harder to trace than more widespread English surnames.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname has a cluster of closely related spellings in America, which often hints at a common origin but variable local pronunciation.