This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of the white acre.' No doubt many small localities scattered over the country bearing this name have helped to swell the large total of Whitakers found in our modern directories. Overand Nether Whitacre are parishes in Warwickshire.

Simon de Withacre, Leicestershire, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.

Alan Witacur, Oxfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Richard de Whitacre, Northamptonshire, ibid.

Jordan de Whitacre, Northamptonshire, 20 Edward I: Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III.

Henricus Wyteacre, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Willelmus de Wetaker, 1379: ibid.

Rogerus Whitteacres, 1379: ibid.

1618. Married — John Whitaker and Mary Storey: St. Dionis Back church.

(English) Dweller at 1 the White Field [Old English hwít + æcer] 2 the Wheatfield [Old English, hwœte + œcer] The two Warwicksh. Whitacres were Netherwhitacre and Overwythacre (for Over-whytacre) in the 14th cent.

(English) One who came from Whitacre (white field), in Warwickshire; dweller at the white field.

Local. The north part of a graveyard allotted to the poor was called Whittaker, from wite, a penalty, and acre,—a place of burial for criminals. A culprit who could not discharge the penalty or wite became a "witetheow," and was buried in the wite—acre. Bailey defines Whittaker "the north—east part of a flat or shoal—the middle ground."

The Whittakers or Whitakers are numerous in Lancashire. From the 14th to the 16th century a gentle family of this name lived at High Whitaker or Whitacre in the vills of Simonstone and Padiham, in the parish of Whalley: the Whitakers of Holme and those of Henthorn branched off in the 15th century and those of Healy about 1620 (W. W.). The name was frequent in the parish of Rochdale in the 16th century (F.). During last century the Whittakers were well - to - do Manchester townsmen (B.). The name is just as frequent in the West Riding and less so in Cheshire.