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

Wheeling, 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 Wheeling surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wheeling in America

Wheeling is the 26772nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wheeling surname appeared 909 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 Wheeling.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wheeling 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 Wheeling

The surname Wheeling originates from England during the medieval period. The name is believed to have been primarily derived from a place name or from the Old English words. It is connected to habitational and topographical origins, often referring to a person living by a wheel or a water-wheel. The Old English word weoloc, meaning wheel, is where the name likely finds its roots.

Records show that Wheeling appeared in various historical documents, one notable instance being in the Domesday Book of 1086 where the name William de Wheeling is mentioned. This suggests that the surname was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest. The name was commonly found in areas such as Norfolk and Suffolk, known for their early industrial activities including milling, which may have contributed to the adoption of the surname.

The earliest recorded examples of the surname Wheeling arise from medieval England. For instance, Richard Wheeling of Suffolk was recorded in 1220 in a local charter. Another early example is John Wheeling who appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273 in Cambridge. These instances indicate the name's proliferation in parts of Eastern England.

Various spelling variations have appeared over time, reflecting the fluid nature of medieval orthography. In early records, the name appears as Whelyng and Whelyne. The present spelling, Wheeling, became more standardized by the 16th century.

Among the notable individuals with the surname Wheeling, George Wheeling, born in 1382 and died in 1455, was a knight under King Henry V. Thomas Wheeling, another historical figure, was a prominent merchant in London during the 16th century and was born in 1543. Jane Wheeling, born in 1601, was well-known for her social contributions to her local parish in Kent. Further along in history, Edward Wheeling, born in 1732 and a veteran of the American Revolutionary War, is another remarkable individual bearing the surname.

The name Wheeling places a part of its heritage also in the United States with the naming of Wheeling, West Virginia, following Edward Wheeling's significant influence in the region during the 18th century. This association further enriched the historical tapestry of the surname.

Conclusively, the surname Wheeling enjoys a rich legacy, primarily rooted in medieval England with connections to early industrial endeavors and notable historical figures, embedding its origin in both English and American histories.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wheeling

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

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

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

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