2000
#53,299
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 364
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.13
Very Rare Last name
Widmark
A Swedish surname derived from a meadow, possibly referring to one who lived near a meadow.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 394 Americans carry the last name Widmark. That puts it at #62,792 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 869,935 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Widmark surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
394
1 in 869,935
Census rank
#62,792
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
344
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 344 bearers of the surname Widmark in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 62792nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Widmark, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.7%) and Two or More Races (4.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Widmark
The surname Widmark has its origins in Sweden, with historical ties that can be traced back to the early modern period. The name likely originates from the Swedish language, combining two elements: "wid," which is an old variation of "vid," meaning "wide" or "broad," and "mark," meaning "land" or "territory." Therefore, the name Widmark can be interpreted as "broad land" or "wide territory."
The regions where the surname Widmark was first found primarily include areas within Sweden, especially in the central and northern parts of the country. Early forms of this surname were sometimes recorded in old parish records and other local documents in these areas. Though not as frequently mentioned as other surnames, Widmark can be traced back in local records dating to the 17th and 18th centuries.
One of the earliest known references to the surname Widmark appears in parish records dating back to the early 1700s in the province of Dalarna, where a Johannes Widmark was recorded. He was born in 1702 and appears in various church documents of the time, suggesting that the name had a recognized and established presence in that region.
Another historical figure bearing the surname Widmark was Anders Widmark, born in 1745 in Uppsala. He became known as a minor local official in the area and appears in civic records from the latter half of the 18th century. His contributions to local governance were modest but well-documented, reflecting the social standing and respectability of the family name.
By the 19th century, the surname Widmark had spread to other parts of Sweden and possibly to neighboring countries. A notable individual from this period was Gustav Widmark, born in 1822 in Gothenburg. He made his mark as a merchant and occasionally appeared in local newspapers and business records, indicating the family's involvement in the region's expanding commerce during the industrial age.
Richard Widmark, born in 1914, is perhaps the most internationally recognized bearer of the surname. Although born in the United States, his roots trace back to Swedish immigrants. His illustrious career in Hollywood as an actor brought the surname Widmark into the global spotlight. Known for his roles in classic films and his distinct on-screen presence, Richard Widmark left a lasting legacy until his death in 2008.
In the 20th century, another distinguished individual was Stig Widmark, born in 1921, known for his work as a respected journalist and editor in Sweden. His contributions to Swedish media during the post-war period were notable, and his work often touched on cultural and societal issues.
The surname Widmark thus represents a name with deep historical roots in Sweden, characterized by its evolution over centuries and its association with various notable individuals in different fields. From early parish records to global recognition through cinema, Widmark stands as a testament to the rich tapestry of Swedish onomatology.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Widmark
Among Census respondents with the surname Widmark, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.7%) and Two or More Races (4.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Widmark bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Widmark surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White87.5% · 301
- Hispanic or Latino4.7% · 16
- Two or more races4.1% · 14
- American Indian and Alaska Native3.5% · 12
- Black or African American0.3% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Widmark
Widmark appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#60,045
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 336
-28 bearers (-7.7%)
Per 100,000 0.11
Rank movement Down 6,746 places
2020
#62,792
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 344
+8 bearers (+2.4%)
Per 100,000 0.12
Rank movement Down 2,747 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #53,299 | 364 | 0.13 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #60,045 | 336 | 0.11 | -28 bearers (-7.7%) | Down 6,746 places |
| 2020 | #62,792 | 344 | 0.12 | +8 bearers (+2.4%) | Down 2,747 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Widmark surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #60,045 | #62,792 | -4.6% |
| Count | 336 | 344 | 2.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.11 | 0.12 | 4.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Widmark bearers went from 336 to 344 (+2.4% change). The surname moved down 2,747 positions in the national ranking, going from #60,045 to #62,792.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Widmark
FAQ
Widmark surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Widmark?
Name Census estimates that about 394 living Americans carry the surname Widmark. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 869,935 residents.
How common is Widmark?
Widmark ranks #62,792 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 344 people with the surname Widmark. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (394), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.12 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.12 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Widmark.
Has Widmark become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Widmark went from 336 recorded bearers to 344. That is an increase of 8 (+2.4%). In the national ranking it fell from #60,045 to #62,792.
What does the Census say about the background of Widmark?
Among Census respondents with the surname Widmark, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.7%) and Two or More Races (4.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Widmark in the 2020 Census, accounting for 87.5% (301 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Widmark appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (87.5%), Hispanic (4.7%), Two or More Races (4.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Widmark (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Widmark mean?
A Swedish surname derived from a meadow, possibly referring to one who lived near a meadow. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Widmark (0.12 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Widmark?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the last name Widmark on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.