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

Wasp, 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 Wasp surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wasp in America

Wasp is the 98099th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wasp surname appeared 185 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 Wasp.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wasp 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 Wasp

The surname "WASP" is an English name that originated as a nickname or descriptive term. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "wæsp" or "wæps," referring to the stinging insect known as a wasp. This nickname may have been given to someone who was perceived as having a quick temper or a sharp, stinging personality.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "WASP" can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record from the late 13th century. In this document, dated around 1273, there is an entry for a person named "William Waspe."

The surname "WASP" also appears in various medieval records and manuscripts, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a "John Waspe" is listed as a taxpayer. Additionally, in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire from 1332, a "William Waspe" is mentioned.

In the 15th century, the surname "WASP" can be found in the Sussex Musters of 1480, which was a military muster roll. This document includes the name "John Waspe," who was likely a resident of Sussex at that time.

Notably, the surname "WASP" is also associated with several historical figures. One such figure was Thomas Wasp (c. 1515-1572), an English clergyman and author who served as the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Christopher Wasp (c. 1577-1638), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including a book titled "The Fireman's Scourge" in 1633.

In the 17th century, there was a prominent family from Lincolnshire known as the Wasps. One member of this family was Sir Thomas Wasp (1635-1712), a baronet and landowner who served as the High Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1689.

The surname "WASP" can also be traced to various place names and older spellings of place names. For example, there is a village in Cambridgeshire called "Wasperton," which may have influenced the development of the surname in that region.

Throughout history, the surname "WASP" has been borne by several notable individuals, including the aforementioned Thomas Wasp, Christopher Wasp, and Sir Thomas Wasp, as well as others such as Thomas Wasp (c. 1665-1724), an English architect, and William Wasp (c. 1715-1793), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wasp

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

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

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

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