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

Wands, 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 Wands surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wands in America

Wands is the 37792nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wands surname appeared 588 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 Wands.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wands 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 Wands

The surname WANDS is of English origin, with its earliest known roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "wand," which referred to a thin, flexible rod or stick, often used by travelers or shepherds.

In the medieval period, WANDS may have been an occupational surname, referring to individuals who crafted or sold wands for various purposes, such as walking sticks, measuring rods, or even magical wands used by practitioners of the occult arts.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname WANDS can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a certain John le Wand is mentioned. This spelling variation, "le Wand," suggests that the name was likely associated with the individual's occupation or trade.

The WANDS surname also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, where a William Wand is listed. This document was a survey of landowners and tenants commissioned by King Edward I, providing valuable insight into the distribution of the name during that period.

In the 16th century, the surname WANDS can be found in various parish records and historical documents. One notable example is William Wands, a merchant and alderman in the city of Norwich, who lived from 1532 to 1597.

During the 17th century, the WANDS surname gained prominence in the county of Lincolnshire. A notable figure was Robert Wands, a prominent clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Lincoln from 1640 to 1647.

Another notable individual bearing the WANDS surname was Sir John Wands, a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire in the late 17th century. He played a significant role in the English Civil War and was a staunch supporter of the Parliamentarian cause.

In the 18th century, the WANDS family established itself in the county of Norfolk. One notable member was Thomas Wands (1720-1789), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Assembly Rooms in Norwich.

As the centuries progressed, the WANDS surname spread across various regions of England, with some members of the family migrating to other parts of the world, including the United States and Australia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wands

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

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

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

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