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

Wildt, 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 Wildt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wildt in America

Wildt is the 27411th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wildt surname appeared 880 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 Wildt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wildt 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 Wildt

The surname Wildt originates from Germany, with historical roots dating back to the Middle Ages. The name was primarily found in regions such as Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Hesse. Derived from the Middle High German word "wild," meaning "wild" or "untamed," the surname likely pointed to individuals who may have lived near wild lands or forests, or it could have described their nature or occupation related to hunting or forestry.

Spelling variations of the name have included Wild and Wilde, with records documenting these variations in different regions. The name appeared in several historical manuscripts and local records dating as far back as the 13th century. An early recorded example is Heinrich Wild, a resident of Nuremberg, listed in documents from 1294. These records indicate that the family was established and recognized in the local community during that time.

In 1423, another mention of the name is found in the form of Dietrich Wildt, a landowner in Bavaria. His holdings were well-documented in property registers, revealing the prominence of the family in regional affairs. The variant Wilde continued to evolve, particularly in the more northern and western regions of Germany.

One notable person bearing the surname was Hans Wildt, born in 1571 and recorded as a master craftsman in Mainz. His work as a carpenter and later as a guild leader demonstrated the respect and influence his family held within the city. The family continued to be influential into the 17th century, with records of Johann Wildt, born in 1642 in Würzburg, who was an early academic known for his contributions to natural philosophy.

Famous individuals from later centuries include Friedrich Wildt, a 19th-century composer from Hamburg, who was known for his operatic works and contributions to German music culture. Another significant figure was Gustav Wildt, born in 1829, who became a noted theologian and author, publishing several works on Lutheran doctrine.

The surname Wildt reflects a rich history tied to the land and professions of early Germany. Through centuries, individuals with this surname have played various prominent roles, from craftsmen and academics to composers and theologians. Despite the evolution of the name and its variations, the legacy of the Wildt family remains well-documented and impactful.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wildt

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

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

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

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