Wentland last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Wentland

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "winding land" or "crooked land".

Wentland, 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 Wentland surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wentland in America

Wentland is the 22246th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wentland surname appeared 1,159 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 Wentland.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wentland 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 22246 21916 1.49%
Count 1,159 1,104 4.86%
Proportion per 100k 0.39 0.41 -5.00%

The history of the last name Wentland

The surname Wentland is of Anglo-Saxon origin, tracing its roots back to England in the medieval period. The name is derived from the Old English words "went," meaning path or road, and "land," referring to a piece of cultivated land or estate. It likely originated as a locational surname, given to someone who lived near a prominent path or road.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Wentland can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and wealth commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Wentlandia," referring to a small hamlet or estate in the county of Gloucestershire.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the surname underwent various spelling variations, such as Wentlonde, Wentlande, and Wentlond, reflecting the inconsistencies in written records and regional dialects of the time. The name's association with place names is evident in historical records, such as the Wentland Manor in Somerset, which dates back to the 13th century.

One notable figure bearing the Wentland surname was Sir John Wentland (c. 1450-1520), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Hertfordshire. He served as a justice of the peace and was known for his involvement in local governance and administration.

In the 16th century, the Wentland family established themselves as successful merchants and traders in the city of London. Thomas Wentland (1520-1590), a prosperous wool merchant, was a benefactor of Christ's Hospital, a renowned charitable school in the city.

The name Wentland also has connections to the American colonies. Richard Wentland (1635-1701), an early settler from England, became a prominent landowner and farmer in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. His descendants continued to use the surname and played an active role in the development of the New England region.

Another notable figure was William Wentland (1785-1858), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He rose through the ranks and was eventually appointed as the commander of the HMS Bellerophon, the ship that received Napoleon Bonaparte's surrender after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

Throughout the centuries, the Wentland surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, artists, and scholars. One such example is Elizabeth Wentland (1857-1938), a renowned English writer and poet who gained recognition for her works exploring themes of nature and the human condition.

The surname Wentland, with its rich history and connections to both English and American roots, continues to be a part of the diverse tapestry of family names that have shaped the cultural landscape over generations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wentland

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

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 Wentland was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 95.17% 1,103
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.95% 11
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.69% 8
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.78% 9
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.73% 20
Hispanic Origin 0.69% 8

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 Wentland has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 95.17% 96.11% -0.98%
Black 0.95% 0.54% 55.03%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.69% 0.91% -27.50%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.78% 0.91% -15.38%
Two or More Races 1.73% 0.82% 71.37%
Hispanic 0.69% 0.72% -4.26%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Wentland last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/wentland-surname-popularity/.

"Wentland last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/wentland-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Wentland last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/wentland-surname-popularity/.

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