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

Wilber, 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 Wilber surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wilber in America

Wilber is the 5642nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wilber surname appeared 6,155 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 Wilber.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wilber 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 Wilber

The surname WILBER is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English personal name Wilburh, which was composed of the elements "wil" meaning "will" or "desire," and "burh" meaning "fortress" or "protection." This name likely referred to someone with a strong will or determination.

The earliest known recorded instances of the surname WILBER can be traced back to the 12th and 13th centuries in various regions of England, such as Essex, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Wilbur, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including Wilbur, Wilbore, and Wilbeer, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that era. The name was also associated with several place names, such as Wilburgham in Cambridgeshire and Wilbrahams in Suffolk, suggesting that some bearers of the name may have originated from or been associated with these locations.

Notable individuals with the surname WILBER include John Wilbur (c. 1550-1616), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Gloucester. Another prominent figure was Samuel Wilbur (1679-1741), a Quaker minister and author from Rhode Island, who played a significant role in the early history of the Quaker movement in America.

In the 19th century, Wilber Wilbur (1819-1890) was a prominent American inventor and manufacturer, best known for his contributions to the development of the sewing machine. Additionally, Charles Wilber (1834-1922) was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War, distinguishing himself in several battles and receiving the Medal of Honor for his bravery.

One of the most renowned individuals with the surname WILBER was Ray Wilbur (1875-1949), an American politician and academic who served as the 31st United States Secretary of the Interior under President Calvin Coolidge from 1924 to 1929.

While the surname WILBER is not among the most common in English-speaking countries, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wilber

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

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

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

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