Whitacre

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A family surname of English origin, carried notably by the American choral composer Eric and by various other people
2. A personal surname of English origin, borne by the American choral composer Eric and numerous other families
3. Used as a family name of English origin, most famously held by the American choral composer Eric and his relatives

Etymology: The name is English and comes from a place. "Whitacre" joins Old English "hwīt", meaning "white", and "æcer", meaning "field" or "plot of land". Place names of this type usually described a feature of the land, such as pale soil, chalky ground, or a field that stood out in the landscape. Over time, people who lived at or came from such a place took the name as a hereditary surname, a common pattern in medieval England. The best-known modern bearer is the American composer Eric Whitacre, whose surname follows the same pattern. The spelling has shifted over the centuries, and early records show variants such as "Whitacre" and "Whiteacre." The name is still in use as both a surname and a place name, including the village of Whitacre Heath in Warwickshire, England.