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

Wilde, 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 Wilde surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wilde in America

Wilde is the 3332nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wilde surname appeared 10,766 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Wilde.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wilde 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 Wilde

The surname Wilde originated in England during the Middle Ages. It derived from the Old English word "wilde", meaning wild, untamed, or uncultivated. The name likely referred to someone who lived in a remote or rural area, perhaps on the outskirts of a town or village.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Wilde date back to the 13th century. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 mention a Philip le Wilde from Oxfordshire. The name also appears in various medieval records and manuscripts, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, which list a John le Wilde.

In the 14th century, the surname Wilde began appearing in various spellings, including Wylde, Wilde, and Wyld. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation common during that time period.

One of the earliest prominent individuals with the surname Wilde was Sir John Wilde (c. 1590-1669), an English lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the English Civil War.

Another notable figure was Jonathan Wilde (c. 1682-1725), a notorious English criminal and thieftaker who controlled a vast network of pickpockets and thieves in London. He was eventually hanged for his crimes.

In the 19th century, Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) became one of the most famous individuals to bear the surname. The Irish poet, playwright, and novelist is renowned for his wit, flamboyant style, and works such as "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "The Importance of Being Earnest".

Other notable individuals with the surname Wilde include:

1. Ralph Waldo Wilde (1889-1967), an American mathematician known for his contributions to the field of topology.
2. Cornel Wilde (1912-1989), an American actor, director, and producer best known for his roles in films like "The Greatest Show on Earth" and "The Naked Prey".
3. Marty Wilde (born 1939), an English singer-songwriter and father of pop stars Kim Wilde and Ricky Wilde.
4. Amy Wilde (born 1972), an American golfer who won the U.S. Women's Open in 2014.
5. Max Wilde (born 1990), a German professional soccer player who currently plays as a defender for VfL Bochum.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wilde

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

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

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

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