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

Wilderness, 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 Wilderness surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wilderness in America

Wilderness is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wilderness surname appeared 100 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 Wilderness.

The history of the last name Wilderness

The surname Wilderness is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. The geographic and linguistic origin of the name suggests its association with an environment characterized by untamed natural landscapes. The earliest forms of the word later evolving into the surname emulated these characteristics.

The etymology of Wilderness can be linked to the Old English terms "wild," meaning untamed or uncultivated, and "deoreness," which derives from "deor" meaning animal or beast, combined with "ness," signifying a state or condition. Hence, Wilderness initially described a place abundant with wild animals and forests.

Evidence of the surname Wilderness appears sporadically in early historical records, predominantly in England. One notable mention is in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a Geoffrey de Wilderness is listed in Yorkshire. This seems to be one of the first recorded instances of the surname, indicating its establishment during this period.

During the late medieval period, the name Wilderness can be found in tax records and legal documents. For example, in the Poll Tax records of 1379 in the County of Yorkshire, a Thomas Wilderness appears. This suggests not only the existence but the continuity of the name through generations.

In documents from the 15th century, the surname evolves slightly in spelling but retains its original meaning. In the Wills and Inventories of the Northern Counties of England from the reign of Henry VII, a reference to a Richard Wilderness is noted, providing further evidence of the name's prevalence.

The 17th century saw the name Wilderness spread to other parts of England. Parish records from Kent document the marriage of Samuel Wilderness in 1624, emphasizing the mobility and dispersion of the family name beyond its original territories.

A notable bearer of this surname is John Wilderness, who was registered in property deeds from the late 1600s in Somerset. His involvement in local land transactions highlights the family's integration into the societal fabric of the region.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure with the surname was Elizabeth Wilderness, born in 1742. She was known in literary circles for her patronage of the arts in London, contributing to the cultural enrichment of the time.

The 19th century records include a William Wilderness, born in 1809, who became known for his agricultural innovations in rural England. His efforts in developing farming techniques left a lasting impact on the community, illustrating how the surname continued to be associated with the landscape and the natural world.

Through centuries, the surname Wilderness has managed to sustain its distinctiveness. Its nomenclature paints vivid imagery of undeveloped land and wilderness areas, which has remained consistent from its inception in medieval England to modern historical references.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wilderness

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

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 Wilderness 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.

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

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

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