2010
#140,157
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 119
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Wilka
A Polish surname derived from the word "wilk" meaning "wolf".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 114 Americans carry the last name Wilka. That puts it at #156,005 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 3,006,617 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wilka surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
114
1 in 3,006,617
Census rank
#156,005
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
99
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 99 bearers of the surname Wilka in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 156005th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wilka, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.1%) and Two or More Races (4.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Wilka
The surname Wilka has its origins in Eastern Europe, particularly in regions that encompass modern-day Poland and Germany. Its etymological roots can be traced back to the Old Polish word “wilk” or the German “wolf,” both meaning “wolf.” The diminutive form “Wilk(a)” can denote “little wolf” or “descendant of the wolf,” reflecting a common naming tradition in these regions that honored strong and revered animals.
The surname Wilka first appeared in historical records around the 14th and 15th centuries, a period of frequent migration and settlement across Europe. One of the earliest mentions can be found in Polish land records, indicating the presence of the Wilka family in the Masovian Voivodeship. This area, rich in forests and wildlife, likely influenced the adoption of “Wilka” to denote a person's association with the wolf, symbolizing courage and strength.
In the German territories, the surname Wilka emerges slightly later, appearing in tax records and legal documents from the Holy Roman Empire. For example, Hans Wilka is noted in a 1487 ledger from what is now Saxony. His descendants continued to reside in the region, contributing to the economic and social development of small towns and villages.
Julius Wilka, a notable figure from the early 19th century, was a Prussian officer born in 1801. His military career, marked by commendable service during the Napoleonic Wars, earned him several accolades and mentions in contemporary military archives. His dedication and leadership exemplified the fortitude commonly associated with the name.
In the arts, Elzbieta Wilka, a Polish-born artist from the late 18th century, made significant contributions through her detailed landscape paintings. Born in 1775, she became celebrated for her depictions of the Polish countryside, capturing its natural beauty and tranquil essence. Her works are still studied and admired in art history for their intricate portrayal of rural life.
The Wilka surname also finds historical presence in religious contexts. Father Stefan Wilka, born in 1654, was a Jesuit missionary who traveled extensively across central Europe. His sermons and written works influenced Catholic teachings and left a lasting impact on religious communities by promoting education and charity.
In the late 1700s, Johann Wilka, a prominent merchant from Hamburg, established extensive trade networks across the Baltic Sea. Born in 1763, his business acumen and pioneering spirit helped elevate the city's status as a hub of commerce. His legacy includes several philanthropic initiatives that benefited public infrastructure and education.
Lastly, the literary scene boasts of Maria Wilka, a 19th-century writer from Krakow, known for her novels and essays that explored human nature and societal norms. Born in 1820, her works were crucial in shaping Polish literature and are often cited for their insightful commentary and rich prose.
Throughout history, the surname Wilka has been associated with individuals who exemplified the qualities of leadership, creativity, and resilience. Its rich etymological roots and historical significance paint a vivid picture of the name's journey through the annals of time.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wilka
Among Census respondents with the surname Wilka, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.1%) and Two or More Races (4.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Wilka bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Wilka surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White86.9% · 86
- Hispanic or Latino5.1% · 5
- Two or more races4.0% · 4
- American Indian and Alaska Native3.0% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Wilka
Wilka appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#156,005
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 99
-20 bearers (-16.8%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 15,848 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #140,157 | 119 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #156,005 | 99 | 0.03 | -20 bearers (-16.8%) | Down 15,848 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Wilka surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #140,157 | #156,005 | -11.3% |
| Count | 119 | 99 | -16.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -17.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Wilka bearers went from 119 to 99 (-16.8% change). The surname moved down 15,848 positions in the national ranking, going from #140,157 to #156,005.
FAQ
Wilka surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Wilka?
Name Census estimates that about 114 living Americans carry the surname Wilka. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 3,006,617 residents.
How common is Wilka?
Wilka ranks #156,005 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 99 people with the surname Wilka. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (114), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Wilka.
Has Wilka become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Wilka went from 119 recorded bearers to 99. That is a decrease of 20 (-16.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #140,157 to #156,005.
What does the Census say about the background of Wilka?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wilka, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.1%) and Two or More Races (4.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Wilka in the 2020 Census, accounting for 86.9% (86 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Wilka appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (86.9%), Hispanic (5.1%), Two or More Races (4.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Wilka (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Wilka mean?
A Polish surname derived from the word "wilk" meaning "wolf". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Wilka (0.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Wilka?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.