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

Wellington, 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 Wellington surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wellington in America

Wellington is the 5156th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wellington surname appeared 6,784 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Wellington.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wellington 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 Wellington

The surname Wellington is of English origin, derived from the Old English place name "Walton," meaning "the town by the winding stream or river." The name is also associated with the town of Wellington in Somerset, England, which was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Walintone."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Wellington can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where it appears as "de Walintun." This suggests that the surname was initially adopted by individuals who hailed from the town of Wellington or its surrounding areas.

In the 13th century, records show the surname spelled in various forms, such as "Walyngton," "Walenton," and "Walynton." This variation in spelling was common during that era, as standardized spellings were not yet established.

A notable bearer of the surname Wellington was Sir William Wellington, a 14th-century English knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. He was born around 1310 and participated in several military campaigns against the French.

Another prominent figure with the surname Wellington was Thomas Wellington, a 16th-century English clergyman and author, born in 1555. He served as the Rector of Whichford in Warwickshire and wrote several religious works, including "The Doctrine of the Church of England" and "The Life and Reign of King Henry VIII."

Perhaps the most famous bearer of the surname Wellington was Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852). He was a renowned British military leader and statesman who achieved victory over Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, effectively ending the Napoleonic Wars.

In the 18th century, the surname Wellington was also associated with the town of Wellington in Shropshire, England. One notable individual from this area was Richard Wellington, born in 1722, who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Wenlock.

Another significant figure with the surname Wellington was Reginald Wellington, a 19th-century English explorer and naturalist, born in 1818. He is known for his extensive travels and contributions to the study of natural history, particularly in South America and the Pacific region.

While the surname Wellington has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by individuals of English descent or through migration and settlement.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wellington

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

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

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

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