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

Wildeman, 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 Wildeman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wildeman in America

Wildeman is the 52736th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wildeman surname appeared 393 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 Wildeman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wildeman 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 Wildeman

The surname Wildeman has roots deeply embedded in the Germanic and Dutch linguistic traditions. It is believed to have originated in the Low Countries, encompassing modern-day Netherlands and Belgium, during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Middle Dutch words "wilde" meaning wild or untamed, and "man" meaning man. This combination could denote someone who was perceived as feral, unpredictable, or who lived outside the conventions of settled society.

In the German-speaking regions, the surname also echoes similar connotations, deriving from the Old High German words "wild" and "man." Historical records suggest that Wildeman was used as a descriptive term for individuals who dwelled in untamed natural settings such as forests or mountains, perhaps akin to hermits or those living a solitary, rugged lifestyle.

One of the early recordings of the name in written documents appears in the 14th century, where a Willem Wildeman is mentioned in Flemish chronicles, around 1356. The usage in this context hints at the blending of local dialects and the descriptive nature of the surname.

In records from the Dutch Republic in the 17th century, a notable person with the surname was Pieter Wildeman, born in 1624, who gained recognition for his exploits as a sailor and later as a merchant in the bustling trade environment of Amsterdam. Pieter's life underscores the adventurous spirit possibly implied by his surname.

By the 18th century, the surname appeared in various municipal and ecclesiastical records in German-speaking regions. One notable individual was Johann Caspar Wildeman, born in 1738, who served as a forester in the Black Forest area, suggesting continuity in the association with wilderness and natural landscapes.

In English historical documents, the surname Wildeman occasionally surfaces, often anglicized from European immigrants. One such figure was Henry Wildeman, born in 1803, who emigrated from Germany to England, becoming a prominent industrialist in Birmingham during the Industrial Revolution.

The name continued to be recognized into the 19th century, as illustrated by Eduard Wildeman, a Belgian botanist born in 1866, who contributed significantly to the study of African plant species, reflecting a transition of the surname toward academic and scientific realms.

Throughout its history, the surname Wildeman has preserved a consistent connection to themes of nature, wilderness, and nonconformity. The legacy of the name is supported by its appearances in various historical records and its association with individuals who often led adventurous or unconventional lives.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wildeman

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

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

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

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