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

Wilden, 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 Wilden surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wilden in America

Wilden is the 50467th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wilden surname appeared 414 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 Wilden.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wilden 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 Wilden

The surname Wilden has its origins in England, specifically dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period. It is believed to have originated from Old English words "wild" and "denu," which mean a valley or a hilly area that is untamed or uncultivated. The term "denu" was used in Old English to describe a deep valley or wooded glen, contributing to the combined meaning of "wild valley." This surname was toponymic, meaning it was derived from a geographic location.

One of the earliest records of the name Wilden appears in historical documents like the Domesday Book of 1086, which is a manuscript record commissioned by William the Conqueror. While Wilden itself is not directly mentioned, the roots of similar names such as Willedon and Wildon were noted, indicating the existence of such place names and potentially the origin of the surname from these areas. Wilden has also appeared in tax records, court rolls, and parish registers from the Middle Ages onwards.

The earliest recorded example of Wilden as a surname dates back to the late 12th century. The name "William de Wyldon" appears in Yorkshire tax records from around 1195. This suggests a locational origin for the surname, likely referencing someone from a place named Wildon or Wilden.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the surname Wilden. John Wilden appears as a landholder in Berkshire in the subsidy rolls of 1327. Another early example is Richard Wilden, recorded as a merchant in the early 15th century in London.

Anne Wilden, born in 1657, was noted for her participation in various regional court cases in Essex. Later, Samuel Wilden, born in 1739, became a well-known ironmonger from Birmingham who contributed to the early industrial efforts in the region. Another significant figure includes James Wilden, who was an agricultural innovator in the mid-19th century and contributed to advances in farming techniques in rural Lincolnshire.

The Wilden surname has remained relatively uncommon but appears within historical records sporadically. It has primarily been concentrated in England, with some migration patterns indicating a presence in other parts of the British Isles and later, through emigration, to countries such as the United States and Australia. Its etymological roots provide a fascinating glimpse into the landscape and way of life during the periods when surnames were becoming established.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wilden

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

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

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

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