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

Wayne, 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 Wayne surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wayne in America

Wayne is the 3498th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wayne surname appeared 10,215 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Wayne.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wayne 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 Wayne

The surname Wayne is of English origin and is thought to have derived from the Old English word "weg" meaning "way" or "path." It is believed to have originated as a topographic name for someone who lived near a road or path.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Wayne can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Wagen." This suggests that the name was already in use in England before the Norman Conquest of 1066.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "Wayn," "Weyn," and "Wain." These variations likely stemmed from different regional pronunciations and spellings of the original Old English word.

The surname Wayne is also associated with several place names in England, such as Wayne's Green in Worcestershire and Wayne's Coppice in Shropshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Wayne was John Wayne, who was born in Sussex, England, around 1330. He was a landowner and is mentioned in various historical records from the 14th century.

Another notable figure with the surname Wayne was William Wayne, born in 1561 in Hertfordshire, England. He was a prominent Puritan clergyman and author who wrote several religious texts.

In the 17th century, the Wayne family became well-established in Pennsylvania, USA, after Anthony Wayne, born in 1666 in Yorkshire, England, immigrated to the American colonies. His grandson, Anthony Wayne (1745-1796), was a famous military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and is known as the "Hero of Stony Point."

Thomas Wayne (1580-1651), born in Hertfordshire, England, was a notable figure in the early settlement of Massachusetts. He was one of the founders of the town of Fairfield, Connecticut, and served as a magistrate and representative in the colonial government.

Another prominent individual with the surname Wayne was Sir Henry Mervin Vavasour Wayne (1823-1883), a British naval officer and explorer. He served in the Royal Navy and participated in several expeditions, including the search for the lost Franklin expedition in the Arctic.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Wayne who have made significant contributions throughout history in various fields, from military service and exploration to religion and colonial settlement.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wayne

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

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

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

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