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

Wayland, 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 Wayland surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wayland in America

Wayland is the 12775th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wayland surname appeared 2,415 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Wayland.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wayland 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 Wayland

The surname Wayland originated in England and has a long history dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words "wæge" meaning "way" and "land" meaning "land" or "estate," thus referring to a person who lived near a major road or highway.

The name Wayland is believed to have first appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name was Walter de Weylaund, who was listed as a landowner in Oxfordshire in the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name was often spelled as "Waylond" or "Weylaund," reflecting the variations in spelling common during that period. One notable individual with this surname was John Wayland, a member of the English Parliament in 1295.

By the 14th century, the name had evolved to its modern spelling of "Wayland." During this time, the Wayland family established itself in various parts of England, including Norfolk, Suffolk, and Hertfordshire. A prominent figure from this era was Sir Thomas Wayland, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France in the mid-14th century.

In the 16th century, the name Wayland gained further recognition with the birth of Sir Watkin Wayland (1516-1590), a renowned English soldier and landowner. He served under King Henry VIII and was known for his military exploits during the Anglo-Scottish Wars.

Another notable Wayland was John Wayland (1638-1705), an English Puritan minister and author who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony in the late 17th century. He became a prominent figure in the early history of New England and published several influential religious works.

As the name spread across England and later to other parts of the world, various place names and locations were associated with the Wayland surname, such as Wayland Wood in Norfolk and Wayland's Smithy, an ancient long barrow in Oxfordshire.

Overall, the surname Wayland has a rich history deeply rooted in England, dating back to the 11th century and associated with landowners, soldiers, and notable figures throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wayland

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

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

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

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