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

Wadena, 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 Wadena surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wadena in America

Wadena is the 152628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wadena surname appeared 107 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Wadena.

The history of the last name Wadena

The surname Wadena has its origins in the English county of Yorkshire. It is derived from the Old English words "wadu" meaning wood and "denu" meaning valley, together describing a wooded valley. The earliest recorded spelling of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Waddedene".

In the 12th century, records show a John de Wadden holding lands in Yorkshire. The name evolved over time, with variations like Waddeyn, Wadyn, and Wadden appearing in historic documents. By the 14th century, the modern spelling of Wadena had emerged.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Wadena, a knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century. His coat of arms, featuring a tree on a green field, is still preserved in some heraldic records.

In the 16th century, a branch of the Wadena family settled in the village of Waddington, Lincolnshire. This gave rise to the place name variation of the surname, Waddington. A famous bearer of this variant was William Waddington (1610-1668), a prominent English Puritan clergyman.

The 17th century saw the birth of Edward Wadena (1619-1677), an English merchant who established trade routes with the American colonies. His grandson, Jonathan Wadena (1667-1737), was among the first settlers of the Wadena region in what is now Minnesota, USA, which was later named after the family.

Another notable figure with this surname was Sir Thomas Wadena (1788-1868), a British naval officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became an influential politician. His contributions to maritime safety and navigation were widely recognized during his lifetime.

Throughout its history, the surname Wadena has been associated with various occupations, from landowners and merchants to military personnel and clergymen. Its enduring presence across centuries and regions reflects the rich tapestry of cultural influences that have shaped English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wadena

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

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 Wadena 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.

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 Wadena was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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