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

Wilcoxen, 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 Wilcoxen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wilcoxen in America

Wilcoxen is the 20792nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wilcoxen surname appeared 1,270 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 Wilcoxen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wilcoxen 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 Wilcoxen

The surname Wilcoxen originates from England and can be traced back to the Middle Ages, around the 13th and 14th centuries. This surname is an example of a patronymic name, which means it was derived from the given name of a male ancestor. In this case, the name is derived from "Wilcox," which itself is a diminutive form of the given name William. The suffix "en" would denote "son of," resulting in the meaning "son of Wilcox" or "son of William."

The root "Wilcox" combines the Old Germanic elements "Wil," meaning will or desire, and "cox," a medieval pet form of "son of." This construction was common in medieval England. Variants such as Wilcock and Wilcox were more frequently used, particularly in the northern counties and Midlands, before evolving into Wilcoxen. Other similar variations included Wilcockson and Wilcoxon, all demonstrating the same root origin and meaning.

Historical records of the name can be found in various old manuscripts and records. One of the earliest references appears in the Roll of the Battle Abbey, wherein the name Wilcox is mentioned as early as the 11th century. By the 15th and 16th centuries, the surname begins appearing in parish registers that recorded baptisms, marriages, and burials.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname variation was John Wilcoxen, who appeared in record in the early 1500s in the county of Yorkshire. Another notable early bearer was Thomas Wilcoxen, who lived during the late 16th century and is recorded in Norfolk county records around 1590.

Christopher Wilcoxen was a notable figure during the 17th century. Born around 1620, he is documented as having emigrated to the American colonies, potentially seeking new opportunities or escaping the political strife of the English Civil War. His descendants carried the name forward in the New World, contributing to its spread.

In the 18th century, the name is found in various regional and colonial documents. Benjamin Wilcoxen, born in 1703, served as a local official in Virginia and played a significant role in the community's development. He is also noted for his involvement in early colonial governance.

Another significant person bearing the surname was Sarah Wilcoxen, born in 1751, who was known for her correspondence and writings during the American Revolutionary War. Her letters provide insight into the life and experiences of women in that era and have been preserved in historical archives.

In the early 19th century, the name appears in land records and family genealogies. Robert Wilcoxen, born in 1807, was a pioneer settler in Ohio, establishing a homestead that contributed to the development and expansion of the American frontier.

While less common than its parent form Wilcox, Wilcoxen maintains a distinct lineage and significance. Through significant historical contributions and records, the name carries a rich heritage that traces back to medieval England and the early American colonies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wilcoxen

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Wilcoxen, 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!