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

Wilhoit, 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 Wilhoit surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wilhoit in America

Wilhoit is the 13300th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wilhoit surname appeared 2,293 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 Wilhoit.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wilhoit 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 Wilhoit

The surname Wilhoit is of German origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the regions of Bavaria and Franconia, where it was initially spelled as "Willhoit" or "Wilheit."

The name Wilhoit is derived from the Old German words "willi" and "heit," which translate to "will" and "bright" or "shining," respectively. This combination suggests that the name may have been bestowed upon an individual with a strong-willed and radiant personality.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wilhoit can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from the 13th century. In this manuscript, a certain "Willehalmus de Wilheit" is mentioned in relation to land ownership records.

During the 16th century, the name Wilhoit appeared in the town records of Nürnberg, a city in the Bavarian region of Germany. Notable individuals from this era include Hans Wilhoit (1524-1598), a respected artisan and craftsman, and Katharina Wilhoit (1546-1612), a prominent figure in the local textile trade.

As the Wilhoit family spread across Europe, variations of the name began to emerge. In the Netherlands, for instance, the name was sometimes spelled as "Wilhoite" or "Wilhouten," while in France, it took the form of "Guilhot" or "Guilhaut."

One of the earliest documented instances of the Wilhoit name in North America dates back to the late 18th century, when Johann Wilhoit (1756-1832), a German immigrant, settled in Pennsylvania. His descendants later migrated westward, establishing roots in states like Kentucky and Indiana.

Another notable figure in the Wilhoit family history is William Wilhoit (1819-1892), a farmer and politician from Kentucky who served as a member of the state legislature in the mid-19th century.

Throughout the centuries, the Wilhoit name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artisans, merchants, farmers, and politicians. While the exact origins and early history of the name may remain somewhat shrouded in mystery, its enduring presence across generations and geographical regions serves as a testament to its significance and resilience.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wilhoit

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

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

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

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