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

Wain, 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 Wain surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wain in America

Wain is the 29366th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wain surname appeared 805 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 Wain.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wain 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 Wain

The surname WAIN originated in England and dates back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is derived from the Old English word "waegn," meaning a wagon or cart. This name was likely given to someone who was involved in the transportation or driving of wagons.

One of the earliest known references to the name WAIN can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as "Wagne." This suggests that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

During the Middle Ages, the name WAIN was prevalent in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire. It is believed that some variations of the name, such as Waine and Wayne, may have originated as spellings influenced by local dialects or scribal errors.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named John Wain appears in records as a member of the Guild of St. Mary's in York. This guild was an influential organization that played a significant role in the city's religious and economic life.

Another early recorded instance of the name WAIN is found in the 16th century, when a man named Thomas Wain was born in Lincolnshire in 1536. He later became a respected landowner and local magistrate in the county.

During the 17th century, the name WAIN gained prominence in the village of Wainfleet, which is located in Lincolnshire. It is possible that the name of this village may have been derived from the surname Wain, or vice versa.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname WAIN was Robert Wain (1695-1764), a noted English portrait painter who was known for his artistic depictions of the British aristocracy and gentry. His works can be found in various prestigious collections, including the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Another notable person with the surname WAIN was John Wain (1925-1994), a British novelist, poet, and critic. He was born in Staffordshire and is best known for his novels set in the industrial Midlands region of England, such as "Hurry on Down" and "The Contenders."

In the 20th century, the surname WAIN was also carried by the English cricketer and educator Michael Wain (1905-1984), who played first-class cricket for Oxford University and later served as the Headmaster of Eton College.

While the surname WAIN has been prevalent in England for centuries, it has also been found in other parts of the world, likely due to migration and the spread of English-speaking populations. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the English language and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wain

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

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

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

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