Find out how popular the last name Cadwallader is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Cadwallader.

Cadwallader, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Cadwallader surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cadwallader in America

Cadwallader is the 15456th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cadwallader surname appeared 1,895 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Cadwallader.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cadwallader to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Cadwallader

The surname Cadwallader originated in Wales during the medieval period. It derives from the Welsh personal name Cadwallon, a compound of the elements "cad" meaning "battle" and "gallwn" meaning "leader" or "ruler." The name was borne by several early Welsh rulers and princes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cadwallader is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cadwallader." This suggests that the name had already become established as a surname by the late 11th century in parts of Wales and possibly the Welsh Marches.

In the 13th century, the name is recorded in various Welsh chronicles and annals, such as the Brut y Tywysogyon (Chronicle of the Princes), where it appears in the form "Cadwaladr." This spelling variation reflects the fluid nature of surnames in the Middle Ages.

The earliest known bearer of the surname Cadwallader was Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd (c. 1188-1241), a Welsh prince and ruler of the Kingdom of Gwynedd. He played a significant role in the struggles against the English during the early 13th century.

Another notable figure was Sir John Cadwallader (c. 1533-1604), a Welsh politician and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as Sheriff of Denbighshire and Flintshire.

In the 17th century, the name is found in the parish records of Llansilin, Denbighshire, where a Thomas Cadwallader was recorded in 1670. The name also appears in the records of Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, Denbighshire, with the spelling "Cadwalader" being used.

During the American Revolutionary War, John Cadwalader (1742-1786) was a prominent military officer and politician from Philadelphia. He fought in several battles and later served as a member of the Continental Congress.

In the 19th century, the name is associated with the English scholar and writer George Cadwallader Boville (1804-1889), who was born in Calcutta, India, and later settled in England, where he wrote extensively on Indian history and culture.

Throughout its history, the surname Cadwallader has maintained its strong Welsh roots and connections to the early rulers and princes of medieval Wales. While variations in spelling have occurred over time, the name's association with leadership and military prowess has persisted throughout its long history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cadwallader

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Cadwallader.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Cadwallader was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Cadwallader has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Cadwallader was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cadwallader, please contact us.

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