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

Wildey, 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 Wildey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wildey in America

Wildey is the 27646th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wildey surname appeared 870 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 Wildey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wildey 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 Wildey

The surname Wildey has its origins in England, dating back to the early Middle Ages. The name is most commonly thought to derive from the Old English word "wilde" meaning wild, and "ēage" meaning eye, which together could suggest a meaning akin to "wild-eyed" or someone who had an intense or distinctive gaze. This etymology is reinforced by geographical locations and surnames of similar derivation. Variants such as Wilde and Wyld can also be traced back to similar origins.

The surname Wildey and its variants can be found in historical records as far back as the Domesday Book of 1086, where a similar name "Wiltai" appears. This suggests that the name was well established in England shortly after the Norman Conquest. Throughout the centuries, the name appears in various forms, reflecting the linguistic and social changes of the times.

One early example of the surname in records is found in the late 13th century. Richard Wildey is recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. This indicates that the family may have been landowners or of a certain social standing in the region.

Nicholas Wildey appears in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1212, marking another early instance of the name in official documents. This occurrence signals the spread of the surname through different parts of England, particularly in the Midlands.

A significant individual bearing the surname was Sir Thomas Wildey, born circa 1600. He served as an influential landowner and knight during the Anglo-Scottish Wars, and his lineage ensured that the Wildey name continued to have prominence.

Moving to the 18th century, Mary Wildey, born in 1754 in Staffordshire, became notable for her diary which provides key insights into daily life during her era. Her writings have been utilized by historians to better understand the period's social history.

By the 19th century, Samuel Wildey, born 1810, was known for his contributions to early industrial developments in Birmingham. He played a role in the burgeoning metalwork industry that revolutionized the city and contributed to Britain’s Industrial Age.

Across centuries, the Wildey surname represents a lineage enriched with history, connecting medieval England to modern times through an array of documented individuals who bear witness to the name's endurance and legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wildey

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!