Whitaker (also Whittaker) is a surname of English and Scottish origin, meaning the white acre, also spelled " Whittaker" and " Whitacre." Notable people with the surname include:

People with the name

* The Whitaker iron family - a family important in the iron and steel industry in 19th and 20th century America * A. J. Whitaker (''Ayana Jean Whitaker''; born 1992), American volleyball player *

Alexander Whitaker Alexander Whitaker (1585–1616) was an English Anglican theologian who settled in North America in Virginia Colony in 1611 and established two churches near the Jamestown colony. He was also known as "The Apostle of Virginia" by contemporaries. ...

(1585–1616), American religious leader * Amoret Whitaker, forensic entomologist * Anthony Whitaker (1944–2014), New Zealand herpetologist * Ayton Whitaker (1916–1999), British producer and director of radio, film and television * Arthur Luther Whitaker (1921–2007), American minister, professor, psychologist, and sociologist * Benjamin Whitaker (disambiguation) *

Berry Whitaker Berry M. Whitaker (October 22, 1890 – January 10, 1984) was an American college football and college basketball coach. He also organized one of the nation's first university intramural programs at The University of Texas at Austin. Whitaker se ...

(1890–1984), American football college coach * Billy Whitaker (1923–1995), English football defender *

Brandon Whitaker Brandon Marcel Whitaker (born September 7, 1985) is a professional Canadian football running back who is currently a free agent, having most recently played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was signed as an undra ...

(born 1985), Canadian football running back *

Brian Whitaker Brian Whitaker (sometimes credited as Brian Whittaker; born 13 June 1947) is a British journalist and writer. He studied Arabic studies at the University of Westminster and Latin (BA Hons) at the University of Birmingham. A former joint invest ...

, British journalist *

Candi Whitaker Candace Elizabeth Whitaker (née White; born April 22, 1980) is an American college basketball coach who is currently women's basketball head coach at Missouri Western. Previously, Whitaker was head coach at UMKC and Texas Tech. After playing c ...

(born 1980), American college basketball coach *

Carl Whitaker Carl Alanson Whitaker (1912–1995) was an American physician and psychotherapy pioneer family therapist. "Carl Whitaker was one of the founding generation of family therapists who broke the rules of the psychotherapeutic orthodoxies of the ti ...

(1912–1985), American therapist *

Carol Whitaker Carol Whitaker (born June 30, 1982 in Saint John, New Brunswick as Carol Webb) is a Canadian curler. Career Whitaker played for New Brunswick at the 1999 Canada Games, finishing in 10th place. Whitaker played in three straight Canadian Juni ...

(born 1982), Canadian curler * Charles Whitaker (c. 1642 – 1715), English politician * Chico Whitaker (born 1931), Brazilian social-justice advocate *

Chris Whitaker Chris Whitaker (born 19 October 1974) is an Australian professional rugby union coach and former international player. he is head coach of the Sydney Rays in Australia's National Rugby Championship, and the interim head coach of Super Rugby si ...

(born 1974), Australian rugby union player * Colin Whitaker (1932–2015), English football left winger * Corinne Whitaker (born 1934), American digital artist *

Cuthbert Whitaker Sir Cuthbert Wilfred Whitaker (26 May 1873''Who's Who in local government'', 1935 – 1950) was editor of ''Whitaker's Almanack''. He held the position for fifty-five years, succeeding his father Joseph Whitaker when he died in 1895, and was in ...

(1873–1950), editor of ''Whitaker's Almanack'' *

Danny Whitaker Daniel Phillip Whitaker (born 14 November 1980) is an English former professional football player and manager who was recently the player-manager of club Macclesfield. A former Manchester United Academy player, Whitaker turned professional ...

(born 1980), English footballer * Danta Whitaker (born 1964), American football tight end * David Whitaker (disambiguation), several people *

Denis Whitaker Brigadier William Denis Whitaker, (February 27, 1915 – May 30, 2001) was a Canadian athlete, soldier, businessman, and author. Early life Born in Calgary, Alberta and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Whitaker was educated at the University of To ...

(1915–2001), Canadian general *

Denzel Whitaker Denzel Dominique Whitaker (born June 15, 1990) is an American actor. Beginning his career as a child actor, he acted in the films '' Training Day'' (2001) and '' The Ant Bully'' (2006) before portraying James Farmer Jr. in ''The Great Debaters' ...

(born 1990), American actor * Deonce Whitaker (born 1978), Canadian football running back *

Duane Whitaker Nathan Duane Whitaker Jr. (born June 23, 1959) is an American character actor. Early life Whitaker was born in Abilene, Texas, the oldest child of Nathan Duane Whitaker Sr. and Barbara Ella Hudson, a nurse. He has two younger sisters, both bo ...

(born 1959), American actor * Ed Whitaker (1938–2014), American stock car team owner * Edward Whitaker (1660–1735), Royal Navy officer * Edward W. Whitaker (1841–1922), Union Army officer during the American Civil War, Medal of Honor recipient *

Ellen Whitaker Ellen Whitaker (born 5 March 1986) is an English show jumping rider, currently ranked 191 on the FEI riders Longines Ranking list in July 2022. Career Competing since the age of 5, Whitaker has had much experience in the equestrian world and ...

(born 1986), English show jumping rider *

Elizabeth Raffald Elizabeth Raffald (; 1733 – 19 April 1781) was an English author, innovator and entrepreneur. Born and raised in Doncaster, Yorkshire, Raffald went into domestic service for fifteen years, ending as the housekeeper to the Warburton baron ...

(née ''Whitaker''; 1733–1781), English businesswoman, author of ''The Experienced English Housekeeper'' cookery book *

Elsie Whitaker Martinez Elsie Whitaker Martinez (1 March 1890 – 31 January 1984) was renowned for her beauty in youth and old age, a muse of many famed writers and artists and an associate of most people in Northern California's Bohemian community of 1906 into the 1 ...

(1890–1984), daughter of Herman Whitaker *

Eric Whitaker (disambiguation) Eric Whitaker may refer to: * Eric E. Whitaker (born 1964/1965), American physician * Eric P. Whitaker (born 1957), American diplomat *Eric Whitaker (born 1966), member of the United States 1991 Rugby World Cup squad See also *Eric Whitacre ...

Evelyn Whitaker Evelyn Whitaker (1844–1929) was an English children's writer, whose work was described as charming, pure and wholesome. She displays strong sensitivity to poverty and to illness. Her books were published anonymously. Background Whitaker was bo ...

(1844–1929), children's writer *

Ewen Whitaker Ewen Adair Whitaker (22 June 1922 – 11 October 2016) was a British-born astronomer who specialized in lunar studies. During World War II he was engaged in quality control for the lead sheathing of hollow cables strung under the English Channel ...

(1922–2016), British-American astronomer *

Forest Whitaker Forest Steven Whitaker (born July 15, 1961) is an American actor. He is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. After making his f ...

(born 1961), American actor * Francis Whitaker (1906–1999), American blacksmith * Franklin Whitaker (died 1891), American politician * Frederic Whitaker (1891–1980), American watercolorist * Frederick Whitaker (disambiguation) * George Whitaker (disambiguation), several people * Harold Whitaker (1920–2013), British animator * Henry Whitaker (c. 1549 – 1589), English politician, Member of Parliament for Westbury (1586–1588) * Henry Whitaker (c. 1622 – 1695), English lawyer and politician, Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury (1659, 1661–1679) *

Herman Whitaker Herman James Whitaker (January 14, 1867 – January 20, 1919), known as Jim to his friends, was an English-born writer. Whitaker authored more than two hundred short stories and several books. Early life Whitaker was born on January 14, 1867, in ...

(1867–1919), American writer * Hugh Whitaker (born 1961), British rock drummer *

Jack Whitaker John Francis Whitaker (May 18, 1924 – August 18, 2019) was an American sportscaster who worked for both CBS and ABC. Whitaker was a decorated army veteran of World War II. He fought in the Normandy Campaign and was wounded by an artillery st ...

(1924–2019), American sportscaster * James Whitaker (disambiguation) * Janet Whitaker, Baroness Whitaker (born 1936), British Labour politician *

Jared Whitaker Jared Irwin Whitaker (May 4, 1818May 3, 1884) was a Georgia newspaperman, publisher of '' the Daily Intelligencer'' from 1864 to 1871, and earlier served as a politician. Defeating a three-term incumbent to become the 14th Mayor of Atlanta, Georg ...

(1818–1884), mayor of Atlanta, Georgia *

Jason Whitaker Jason Whitaker (born June 19, 1977) is a former American football offensive guard who played college football at Florida State University and attended A. Crawford Mosley High School in Lynn Haven, Florida. He was a consensus All-American in 19 ...

(born 1977), American football player * Jeremiah Whitaker (1599–1654), English Puritan clergyman, member of the Westminster Assembly *

Jim Whitaker Norris J. "Jim" Whitaker (born September 30, 1950) is an American politician of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party who served as mayor of Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, from 2003 ...

(''Norris J. Whitaker''; born 1950), American politician, Mayor of Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska (2003–2009) *

Joel Whitaker Joel D. Whitaker (October 5, 1877 – October 13, 1947) was an American Ophthalmology, ophthalmologist and college football player and coach. He was hired as one of the first coaches of the Guilford Quakers football, Guilford Quakers in 1897, post ...

(1877–1947), physician and college football player and coach * John Whitaker (disambiguation), several people * Joseph Whitaker (disambiguation), several people * Kati Whitaker, British radio and TV journalist * Kevin Whitaker (born 1957), American diplomat *

Lance Whitaker Lance Whitaker (born May 29, 1971) is an American former professional boxer. As an amateur in the super heavyweight division, he won a bronze medal at the 1995 Pan American Games. Nicknamed "Mount", or more recently "Goofi", Whitaker was known ...

(born 1971), heavyweight boxer * Laurence Whitaker (c. 1578 – 1654), English politician * Lawrence Whitaker (game designer), American role-playing game designer *

Lang Whitaker Lang Whitaker is an American author and sportswriter who works for the Memphis Grizzlies as the General Manager of Grizz Gaming, and a contributor to Grind City Media, as well as a contributor to GQ Magazine. Career From 2000–2013, Whitaker ...

, American sportswriter * Larry Whitaker, American animation director * Lily C. Whitaker (1850–1932), American educator, writer; daughter of Mary Scrimzeour Whitaker *

Lou Whitaker Louis Rodman Whitaker Jr. (born May 12, 1957), nicknamed "Sweet Lou", is an American former professional baseball second baseman. Whitaker spent his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. From 1977 to 1995, he appeared in 2,390 games for the ...

(born 1957), American baseball player * Lucian "Skippy" Whitaker (born 1930), American basketball player * Lyman Whitaker, American sculptor * Mabel Whitaker (1884–1976), New Zealand teacher and local historian * Maria do Céu Whitaker Poças, Céu, Brazilian singer * Marjorie Whitaker (better known as ''Malachi Whitaker''; 1895–1976) * Mark Whitaker (disambiguation), several people * Martin Whitaker, British businessman * Martin D. Whitaker (1902–1960), American physicist * Matthew Whitaker (disambiguation) **

Matthew Whitaker Matthew George Whitaker (born October 29, 1969) is an American lawyer, lobbyist and politician who served as the acting United States Attorney General from November 7, 2018, to February 14, 2019. He was appointed to that position by President D ...

, acting U.S. Attorney General (born 1969) **

Matthew Whitaker (pianist) Matthew Whitaker (born April 3, 2001) is an American jazz pianist. Blind since birth, he has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center and the Apollo Theater, where, at 10, he was the opening performer for Ste ...

(born 2001), American jazz pianist ** Matthew C. Whitaker, American historian * Mary Scrimzeour Whitaker (1820–1906), American author; mother of Lily C. Whitaker * Meade Whitaker (1919–2005), United States Tax Court judge * Michael Whitaker (born 1960), British equestrian rider, * Mike Whitaker (swimmer) (born 1951), Canadian Olympic swimmer *

Milton C. Whitaker Milton C. Whitaker (1870-1963) was a noted 20th-century chemist. His areas of speciality were chemical engineering and industrial chemistry. Personal life Whitaker was born in Frazeysburg, Ohio, December 16, 1870, to R.B. Whitaker and Jennie Mag ...

(1870–1963), American chemist * Neil Whitaker (1931–2008), Australian rules footballer * Nelson E. Whitaker (1839–1909), President of the West Virginia Senate 1897–1899 *

Nick Whitaker Nick Whitaker (born October 1, 1988) is an American actor who is known for playing the lead role in '' Benji: Off the Leash!''. Career Whitaker's first role was a Chase Patterson in ''Message in a Cell Phone''. He is an active member of the Chur ...

(born 1988), American actor *

Norman T. Whitaker Norman Tweed Whitaker (April 9, 1890 – May 20, 1975) was an American International Master of chess, a lawyer, a civil servant, and a chess author. He was convicted of several crimes, was disbarred from the practice of law, and served seve ...

(1890–1975), International Master of chess *

O'Kelley Whitaker O'Kelley Whitaker (December 26, 1926 – June 25, 2015) was eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York. Biography Whitaker was born in Durham, North Carolina on December 26, 1926. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Philoso ...

(1926–2015), bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York (1983–1992) *

Ozi William Whitaker Ozi William Whitaker (May 10, 1830 – February 9, 1911) was a leading evangelical in the Episcopal Church who became missionary bishop of Nevada and Arizona, then coadjutor and eventually the 5th diocesan bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Penns ...

(1830–1911), bishop of the Episcopal Church * Pat Whitaker (1865–1902), Major League Baseball pitcher * Paul Whitaker (born 1973), English and New Zealand cricketer *

Pernell Whitaker Pernell Whitaker Sr. (January 2, 1964 – July 14, 2019) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 2001, and subsequently worked as a boxing trainer. He was a four-weight world champion, having won titles at lightweight, ligh ...

(1964–2019), American boxer *

Peter Whitaker Peter Whitaker was an English actor who appeared as bar owner Jack Pomeroy in the first series of '' Rumpole of the Bailey''. He is also known for playing the murdered police inspector Gascoigne in the ''Doctor Who'' serial ''The Faceless Ones'', ...

, English actor *

Phil Whitaker Phil Whitaker (born 1966) is an English novelist and physician. He is also a journalist. Education and writings Whitaker, born in Kent, qualified in medicine at the University of Nottingham in 1990 and at the University of Oxford, where he under ...

(born 1966), British novelist and physician * Ray Whitaker, Australian rules footballer *

Richard Whitaker Richard Northcroft "Dick" Whitaker (born 15 July 1947) is an Australian meteorologist and author. Whitaker is the chief meteorologist on The Weather Channel, following his thirty-year career as a meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology. Bu ...

(born 1947), Australian meteorologist *

Richard Whitaker (architect) Richard Whitaker is an American Third Bay Tradition architect. Whitaker was one of four architects who designed The Sea Ranch. He was the teaching assistant to Lawrence Halprin at the University of California, Berkeley. Halprin invited Whitak ...

, American Third Bay Tradition architect * Robert Whitaker (disambiguation), several people * Rod Whitaker (disambiguation) * Rogers E. M. Whitaker (1900–1981), editor of ''The New Yorker'' magazine *

Romulus Whitaker Romulus Earl Whitaker (born 23 May 1943) is an American-Indian herpetologist, wildlife conservationist, and founder of the Madras Snake Park, the Andaman and Nicobar Environment Trust (ANET), and the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust. In 2008, Whit ...

(born 1943), herpetologist *

Ronyell Whitaker Ronyell Whitaker (born March 19, 1979) is a former professional American football cornerback. He was signed by the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2002 and played for the Minnesota Vikings, the Detroit Lions and the CFL' ...

(born 1979), American professional football player * Rosa Whitaker, American entrepreneur * Ross T. Whitaker, American engineer * Ruth Whitaker (1936–2014), American politician * Samuel Estill Whitaker (1886–1967), Tennessee attorney, mayor of Riverview, Tennessee, and judge of the United States Court of Claims * Sheila Whitaker (1936–2013), English film programmer and writer * Slim Whitaker (''Charles Orbie Whitaker''; 1893–1960), American film actor * Steve Whitaker (baseball) (born 1943), American baseball player * Steve Whitaker (1955–2008), British artist * T. K. Whitaker (1916–2017), Irish economist *

Thomas Bartlett Whitaker Thomas Bartlett Whitaker (born December 31, 1979) is an American man convicted under the Texas Law of Parties of murdering two family members as a 24-year-old. Whitaker was convicted for the December 10, 2003, murders of his mother and 19 ...

(born 1979), American convicted criminal *

Thomas Dunham Whitaker Thomas Dunham Whitaker (1759–1821) was an English clergyman and topographer. Life Born at Raynham, Norfolk, on 8 June 1759, he was the son of William Whitaker (1730–1782), curate of Raynham, Norfolk, and his wife Lucy, daughter of Robert Du ...

(1759–1821), English clergyman and topographer *

Thomas W. Whitaker Thomas Wallace Whitaker (August 13, 1904 – November 29, 1993) was an American botanist and horticulturist who spent most of his career working as a geneticist for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). He specialized in the study of ...

(1904–1993), American botanist and horticulturist * Timothy W. Whitaker (born 1948), Bishop of the United Methodist Church * Todd Whitaker, American educator, writer, and motivational speaker *

Uncas A. Whitaker Uncas Aeneas Whitaker (March 22, 1900 – September 1975)Anthony Hallett, Diane Hallett, Entrepreneur Magazine Encyclopedia of Entrepreneurs, 1997: John Wiley and Sons, pp. 286-287 () was a prominent mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, l ...

(1900–1975), prominent mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, lawyer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist * Walter C. Whitaker (1823–1887), Union general during the American Civil War * Wetzel Whitaker (also known as ''Judge Whitaker''; 1908–1985), American Mormon filmmaker * William Whitaker (disambiguation) (several people)

Fictional characters

* Brad Whitaker, fictional character from the James Bond film The Living Daylights * Faye Whitaker, fictional character from the webcomic '' Questionable Content'' * John Avery Whitaker, character from the Adventures in Odyssey radio drama {{surname, Whitaker English-language surnames