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

Wakeland, 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 Wakeland surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wakeland in America

Wakeland is the 23532nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wakeland surname appeared 1,079 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 Wakeland.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wakeland 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 Wakeland

The surname Wakeland has its origins in England and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "wacol" meaning watchful or vigilant, and "land" referring to an area or region. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived in or was responsible for guarding a particular area or settlement.

One of the earliest known references to the name Wakeland can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mention a "John de Wakelaunde". This spelling variation provides insight into how the name may have been pronounced at the time.

The Wakeland surname is also closely associated with several place names in England, such as Wakefield in West Yorkshire and Wakering in Essex. These locations may have been named after early bearers of the Wakeland surname or vice versa.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Thomas Wakeland was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1356. He was likely a landowner or person of some importance during that time.

By the 16th century, the Wakeland surname had spread across various regions of England. One noteworthy individual was William Wakeland, born in 1583 in Suffolk, who was a merchant and trader involved in the early colonial efforts in North America.

The Wakeland family also had a presence in Scotland, as evidenced by the birth of James Wakeland in 1647 in Aberdeenshire. He later became a respected minister and theologian, contributing to the religious and intellectual life of the region.

In the 18th century, John Wakeland, born in 1732 in Gloucestershire, was a prominent architect and builder who oversaw the construction of several churches and public buildings in the area.

Another notable figure was Mary Wakeland, born in 1792 in Yorkshire, who was a renowned botanist and naturalist. She contributed significantly to the study and cataloging of plant life in her region.

Throughout history, the Wakeland surname has been associated with various occupations and contributions to society, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wakeland

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

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

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

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