Wildermuth last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Wildermuth

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "wild meadow" or "wilderness meadow".

Wildermuth, 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 Wildermuth surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wildermuth in America

Wildermuth is the 17159th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wildermuth surname appeared 1,651 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Wildermuth.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wildermuth 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 17159 16092 6.42%
Count 1,651 1,654 -0.18%
Proportion per 100k 0.56 0.61 -8.55%

The history of the last name Wildermuth

The surname Wildermuth originates from the German-speaking regions of Europe, specifically from Germany. The name is rooted in the Middle Ages, with its earliest traces found in the southern parts of Germany, such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The name Wildermuth is believed to be derived from Middle High German words, where "wilder" means wild or untamed, and "muth" translates to spirit or courage. This amalgamation suggests a meaning related to someone with a wild spirit or bold demeanor.

Historical records point to the surname Wildermuth appearing in various manuscripts from the medieval period. One of the oldest known references dates back to the 13th century in southern Germany. Documents from church records and local administrations often recorded the names of individuals for property and tax purposes, capturing the name in various forms. Variations of the surname such as Wildermut, Wilderemut, and Wildermüth have been documented, demonstrating the evolution of spelling and pronunciation over time.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname is Conrad Wildermuth, a noted figure from the 14th century, who was documented in several tax records from the city of Ulm. Another historical figure, Hans Wildermuth, born around 1450, was recognized in the city archives of Augsburg for his contributions as a craftsman in the local guild.

In the realm of literature and education, Ottilie Wildermuth is a significant bearer of the surname. Born in 1817 and deceased in 1877, she was a renowned German author known for her children's literature and educational writings. Her works often reflected themes of moral education and were widely circulated in 19th century Germany.

In the political sphere, Hermann Wildermuth, born in 1890 and deceased in 1952, served as a notable member of the German Bundestag, the federal parliament, during the early years of the Federal Republic of Germany. His contributions to housing policy and urban development were significant during the post-World War II reconstruction period.

On the scientific front, Friedrich Wildermuth, born in 1858 and deceased in 1933, made notable contributions to the field of chemistry. His research in organic compounds and dyes was influential in the development of industrial chemistry in Germany during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Lastly, Georg Wildermuth, a 17th-century inventor born in 1628 and deceased in 1697, was recognized for his advancements in mechanical engineering. His works in clockmaking and automata design were esteemed in the Baroque period, showcasing the innovative spirit associated with the surname.

Each of these historical figures reflects the diverse contributions made by individuals bearing the surname Wildermuth, drawing from various fields such as literature, politics, science, and craftsmanship. The surname's rich history underscores its deep roots in German culture and the notable legacy left by its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wildermuth

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

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 Wildermuth was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 96.24% 1,589
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.55% 9
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.03% 17
Hispanic Origin 1.57% 26

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 Wildermuth has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 96.24% 96.98% -0.77%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.55% 0.60% -8.70%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.03% 1.09% -5.66%
Hispanic 1.57% 1.09% 36.09%

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

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

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"Wildermuth last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/wildermuth-surname-popularity/.

"Wildermuth last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/wildermuth-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Wildermuth last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/wildermuth-surname-popularity/.

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