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

Wheeless, 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 Wheeless surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wheeless in America

Wheeless is the 28293rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wheeless surname appeared 845 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 Wheeless.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wheeless 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 Wheeless

The surname Wheeless is believed to have its origins in England, roughly dating back to the late Medieval period. It is thought to have emerged as a variant of the surname Wheeler, which itself is derived from the Old English word "hweol," meaning "wheel." The Wheeler surname traditionally denoted someone who made or repaired wheels or a wheelwright, indicating that the Wheeless surname might have similar occupational roots.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Wheeler can be found as far back as the 13th century. It appears in historical documents such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where individuals named Hugo le Whelere and Alan le Whelare are mentioned. Over time, regional dialects and variations in spelling would eventually lead to the emergence of the surname Wheeless.

An early recorded example of the surname Wheeless can be found in the 17th century. In a parish record from 1642 in Suffolk, England, a John Wheeless is noted. This form of the surname likely represents a phonetic evolution, reflecting local pronunciation and orthographic practices.

During the late 18th century, the surname Wheeless appears in various colonial American records. For example, in 1790, a Thomas Wheeless is listed in the first United States Census for North Carolina. This suggests that the name had spread from its English origins across the Atlantic to the American colonies, where it became established.

Another notable individual bearing the surname Wheeless was John Wheeless, an early 19th-century pioneer who contributed to the settlement of Tennessee, where he appears in land records from the early 1800s. His efforts in agricultural development and community leadership are remembered in local histories.

In the 19th century, the surname is recorded in multiple census records and legal documents across the southern United States. For instance, Edward Wheeless (1820-1885) served as a local magistrate in Mississippi during the Civil War period, indicating the name had by then become relatively common in certain regions.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, another prominent figure was Dr. Samuel Wheeless (1875-1932), a physician based in Alabama who was well-respected for his contributions to public health and medical education. His legacy includes several medical advancements and extensive community service.

In sum, the surname Wheeless has deep historical roots that are closely tied to its occupational origins in England, evolving over centuries and continents to become associated with various notable individuals who have carried the name through history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wheeless

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

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!