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

Wilfred, 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 Wilfred surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wilfred in America

Wilfred is the 60045th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wilfred surname appeared 336 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 Wilfred.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wilfred 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 Wilfred

The surname Wilfred has its origins in England, dating back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old English given name Wilfrid or Wilferth, which itself comprises the elements "wil," meaning "will" or "desire," and "fred," meaning "peace." This etymological blend suggests that the name Wilfred originally meant "desiring peace."

The regions where the surname Wilfred initially appeared were predominantly in the Anglo-Saxon areas. Notably, during the Norman Conquest in 1066, many Old English names were recorded in the Domesday Book, the great survey of England completed in 1086, though the specific appearance of Wilfred as a surname in this document is debatable.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Wilfred can be traced back to medieval England. One of the earliest documented Wilfreds was John Wilfred, who appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Nottinghamshire around 1327. The Subsidy Rolls were medieval tax records that often provide evidence of the existence and residency of individuals.

In more historical contexts, Roger Wilfred, born circa 1450, is noted in records from the West Riding of Yorkshire. Likewise, a Margaret Wilfred is mentioned in 1523 in the same region. These early instances suggest that the name was relatively localized to specific parts of England during the medieval period.

As time progressed, the surname Wilfred began to spread across England and even into other parts of the British Isles. Another notable historical figure was Thomas Wilfred, a 16th-century landowner from Lancashire who passed away in 1597. His estate and last will and testament are well-documented, shedding light on regional influences on the surname.

By the 18th century, the name had become more common. James Wilfred, an Anglican clergyman born in 1723 and died in 1789, was well-known for his contributions to ecclesiastical literature. His works remain part of academic studies on religious history, making him one of the more renowned bearers of the surname during that century.

Historically, the name has maintained a consistent yet relatively uncommon presence. Another figure of note is Sarah Wilfred, born in 1801 in London, who was known for her charitable work during the Victorian era until her death in 1873. Her philanthropic efforts were documented in various social reform records of the time.

Donald Wilfred, an influential figure in early 20th-century British political circles, also carried this surname. Born in 1885 and serving in various governmental roles until his death in 1952, his impact on public policy further solidified the historical significance of the Wilfred surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wilfred

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

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

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

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