Whitfield is from the early Anglo-Saxon name of Witefield.

From "HOBBIE NOBLE"

"Wilt thou with us into England ride,
And they safe warrand we will be?
If we get a horse worth a hundred pound,
Upon his back thou sune sall be." -

"I dare not by day into England ride;
The Land-Sargeant has me at feid;
And I know not what evil may betide,
For Peter of Whitfield, his brother, is dead.

"And Anton Shiel he loves not me,
For I gat twa drifts o' his sheep;
The great Earl of Whitfield + loves me not,
For nae gear frae me he e'er could keep. 

"But will ye stay till the day gae down,
Until the night come o'er the grund,
And I'll be a guide worth ony twa
That may in Liddesdale be found?

Some details from documents in regards to the Whitfield Estate (my thanks to Mildred)

1529

Ralph Whitfield, son of Matthew Whitfield and the daughter of Christopher Ridley of Wallstown, born.

Jun 1    Presentment: George French of Whitfealde, yeoman; at Killop, Co. Durham, stole one black horse worth £3 from Henry Jackeson of Killopp. [NRO QSI/1, f184v (842)]

Sep 5    Indictment: Henry Bradwood of Whytfeild, yeoman; John Viccars of Whytfeild, yeoman; George Rydley of Whytfeild, yeoman; Robert Wallys of Whytfeild, yeoman; William Blacklock of Whytfeild, yeoman; Simon Myddleton of Musgrave, Co. Westmorland, gentleman with various other persons; with stones, swords and knives in warlike array at Over Ouston broke into the fields there, assaulted Nicholas Whytfeild of London, tayler, Nicholas Dixon of Plenmeller, yeoman, George Frenche of Whytfeild, yeoman, and William Rowle of Whytfeild, yeoman, committed riot, and destroyed the oats of Thomas Whytfeild of Morelack, Co. Surrey to the value of £5.[NRO QSI/1, f131v (602)]

1626
Jul 30    Presentment: John Farland of townegreine in Whitfeilde, yeoman; at Steale hall, stole one black mare worth £3 from Thomas Smyth of Sleyley, yeoman. [NRO QSI/1, f188r (859)]

Jul 30    Presentment: John Farlame of towne greine in Whitfeilde, yeoman; at Steale hall, stole only white horse worth 40s., from Robert Waide of Steale hall, yeoman. [NRO QSI/1, f188v (860)]

Matthew Whitfield, the last of the line, sold his estate to John Ord, a Newcastle attorney. William inherited the estate on the death of his father.

1695
Nov 27    Utrick Whitfield, son of Utrick Whitfield of Whitfield, Northumberland, esquire, enrolled as apprentice to Thomas Hutchinson, boothman. [Surtees Vol I01 p 327]

1746

"TheYearly Rent of Whitfield Estate in the County of Northumberland as at Mayday 1746"

Three columns, Parmantly; Whitfield Hall; Huntershields

1773
Monumental inscription from the cemetery at Whitfield:

Here lieth the body
of Jacob Dickinson of the Laws,
interred May 15 1773, Aged 64 years
Also Alice, his wife, who was interred
March 3 1800, Age 85 years

1776
Monumental inscription from the cemetery at Whitfield:

Here lieth the body of Thomas Summers of the Bank Head
interred Jan 24th 1776 aged 59 years

"The Yearly Rent of Whitfield Estate in the Taken from "F?oul Survey Book of Whitfield" by G. Armstrong No date (each field named)

1797
Monumental inscription from the cemetery at Whitfield:

Here lies the body of
Joseph Dickinson of Dews Green,
who died May 12 1797, Aged 60 years

1801-1816
Matthew Brown
Born Whitfield, Northumberland
Served in 1st Royal Veteran Battalion; 32nd Foot Regiment
Discharged aged 42
[TNA WO 97/1113/131]

1811
Monumental inscription from the cemetery at Whitfield:

Sacred in the memory of Jane,
wife of William Dickinson,
who departed this life
February 4 1811, Aged 61 years
Also of William, her husband,
who departed this life
May 3 1819, Aged 81 years

1812
Monumental inscription from the cemetery at Whitfield:

Sacred to the memory of Margery Dickinson,
daughter of Joseph and Margaret Dickinson of the Laws
who died 19 March 1812, Aged 1 month 5 days
Also of Margery, her sister,
who died 12 July 1824, Aged 10 years.

1826
Monumental inscription from the cemetery at Whitfield:

In memory of John Dickinson of Old Hall Mill,
who died February 14 1826, Aged 48 years
Also Hannah, his wife,
who died at Old Town, Whitfield December 24 ????, Aged 66 years
Thomas, their son, died March ?? 1854, Aged 45 years

1827
Monumental inscription from the cemetery at Whitfield:

In memory of Joseph Dickinson of the Laws,
who departed this life November 17 1827, Aged 88 years
Also of Joseph, his son,
who died at Kimblesworth, Durham on 24 January 1850, Aged 32 years
Margaret, wife of the above Joseph Dickinson of the Laws,
died at Hexham January 12 1857, Aged 79 years
Also Ann, their daughter,
who died at Hexham January 1861, Aged 52 years
Also Mary, their daughter,
who died at Hexham 16 May 1864, Aged 54 years

1830
Monumental inscription from the cemetery at Whitfield:

Erected to the memory of Thomas,
son of George and Mary Dickinson of Ouston,
who died April 25 1830, Aged 18 months
Thomas, son of George and Mary Dickinson,
who died March 11 1831, Aged 11 weeks
Mary, wife of George Dickinson,
who died October 11 1832, Aged 31 years
Jane daughter of the above Geroge and Mary Dickinson,
who died May 7 1833, Aged 7 years
Also of the above George Dickinson,
who died at Wool House June 18 1862, Aged 72 years
George, son of the above George and Mary Dickinson,
died at Rose Villa, Haltwhistle August 10 1883, Aged 50 years
and who was interred at Beltingham

1834
Monumental inscription from the cemetery at Whitfield:

In loving memory of Henry Summers
of Park Head who died November 11 1834 aged 88 years
Also Jane his wife who died November 7th 1841 aged 79 years
Also Robert their son who died April 3rd 1836 aged 39 years
Also Isaac their son who died January 19th 1838 aged 32 years
Also Thomas their son died June 17th 1846 aged 62 years
Also John their son died June 24th 1887 aged 84 years
Also Charles their son died April 3rd 1889 aged 79 years
Also Henry their son...........blank

1836
Monumental inscription from the cemetery at Whitfield:

Sacred to the memory of Jacob Dickinson of Staward,
who died March 11 1836, Aged 59 years
Ann, wife of the above,
who died March 25 1866, Aged 75 years
Jane, his daughter, died November 18 1835, Aged 14 years
Hannah, his daughter, died December 27 1831, Aged 19 months
Joseph, his son, died in infancy 1824
Margaret Jane, daughter of the above Jacob & Ann,
who died February 1 1848, Aged 34 years
William Dickinson, late of Staward,
who died at East Elrington, October 30 1874, Aged 59 years

1853
Monumental inscription from the cemetery at Whitfield:

In memory of George Dickinson,
who died at Rowsidehead, Whitfield
June 15 1853, Aged 46 years
Also Thomas, their son, who departed this life
Sept 6 1875, Aged 18 years

1855
Monumental inscription from the cemetery at Whitfield.  Deborah's maiden name was BUSHBY:

In memory of Deborah wife of Matthew Summers
died July 1st 1855 aged 61 years in the parish of Whitfield
Also Sarah his second wife
who died at Monkhouse, Allendale August 24 1874 aged 75 years
Also the above Matthew Summers
who died at Monkhouse Allendale April 7th 1876, Aged 80 years

1872
Monumental inscription from the cemetery at Whitfield:

Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth Robson,
who died at the Laws, Whitfield
March 29 1872, Aged 80 years
Also of Edward Robson, husband of the above,
who died January 19 1879, Aged 99 years
Also of Jane Elizabeth, their daughter,
who died at Harbow Bank September 14 1886, Aged 58 years

1886
Monumental inscription from the cemetery at Whitfield:

In loving memory of Elizabeth Annie,
daughter of John and Mary Robson,
who died at Keenly Well House, Allendale
November 30 1886, Aged 13 years

1887
Monumental inscription from the cemetery at Whitfield:

In loving memory of Maria,
wife of W.L. Robson of the Laws, Whitfield,
who died August 16 1887, Aged 30