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

Wanless, 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 Wanless surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wanless in America

Wanless is the 24890th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wanless surname appeared 999 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 Wanless.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wanless 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 Wanless

The surname Wanless has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "wan" meaning "pale" or "sickly," and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing." Thus, the name likely referred to a pale or sickly clearing or meadow, perhaps indicating the presence of a settlement or dwelling in an area with poor soil conditions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, where a Robert de Wanles is mentioned. This suggests that the name was present in the northern regions of England during the 13th century.

The Wanless surname appears to have been particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire and Durham, with various spellings such as Wanles, Wanlesse, and Wanneless appearing in historical records over the centuries.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named George Wanless (c. 1550-1610) was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of York. He played a significant role in the city's governance and trade during the Elizabethan era.

Another historical figure of note was Robert Wanless (1765-1847), a Scottish minister and writer who served as a minister in the Church of Scotland for over 50 years. He was known for his published works, including sermons and theological treatises.

The 19th century saw the birth of John Wanless (1836-1920), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Academy of Music and the Queen's Gate Terrace in South Kensington.

In the realm of sports, James Wanless (1883-1957) was a professional footballer who played for various clubs in England, including Sheffield United and Huddersfield Town, during the early 20th century.

Another notable figure was Sir Patrick Wanless (1911-1992), a British civil servant who served as the Head of the Home Civil Service from 1968 to 1976. He played a crucial role in the negotiations leading to the UK's entry into the European Economic Community.

While the Wanless surname may have originated from humble beginnings, it has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions across various fields throughout history, leaving an indelible mark on their respective communities and societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wanless

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

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

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

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