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

Wilmarth, 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 Wilmarth surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wilmarth in America

Wilmarth is the 29064th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wilmarth surname appeared 816 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 Wilmarth.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wilmarth 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 Wilmarth

The surname Wilmarth is of English origin, emerging around the medieval period. Its roots trace back to the Anglo-Saxon era in England, and it is believed to have appeared first in the southeastern regions, particularly in Essex and Kent.

The name is likely derived from an old English patronymic origin or a geographic indicator. One theory proposes that Wilmarth may have originated from "Wilmar", a personal name composed of the elements "wil" meaning "will" or "desire" and "mære" meaning "famous". Over time, the suffix "th" might have been added to signify "the son of", as seen in other patronymic names.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Wilmarth can be found in parish records and charters from the 12th and 13th centuries. There are indications that it appeared in land grants and manorial documents, suggesting that bearers of the name were of some standing within their communities.

The earliest recorded example of the name Wilmarth dates back to the early 14th century. An individual named Richard Wilmarth is noted in legal documents from Essex around 1327. This suggests that the Wilmarth family had established themselves as landowners or persons of note in the area by this period.

The family name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of 1524, where a Henry Wilmarth is recorded as a taxpayer in Kent. This further supports the theory that the Wilmarth line was somewhat prominent during the late medieval period.

Edward Wilmarth, born in the late 16th century and dying in 1626, was another significant person bearing the surname. He was observed in parish registers from Essex, signifying that his family had significant ties to the region. His descendants are believed to have emigrated to the New World during the early waves of English colonization in North America.

In the 18th century, the Wilmarth name appears in colonial American records. For instance, Thomas Wilmarth, born in 1732 and deceased in 1788, is found in Massachusetts Bay Colony documents. He was a farmer and a local militia member during the American Revolutionary War, adding historical prominence to the Wilmarth name in the United States.

Another notable figure was John Wilmarth, who was born in 1797 and died in 1863. He served as an influential community leader and politician in New York, marking the family's integration and ascent in American society.

Coupled with these historical figures, the family name shows varied spellings over the centuries, such as Willmoth and Willmarthe, but the most enduring and recognizable form has remained Wilmarth.

Throughout history, the Wilmarth surname has been associated with individuals who made their mark through land ownership, local governance, and participation in significant historical events, particularly during the periods of English settlement and American colonial development. This legacy has endowed the name with a distinct historical and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wilmarth

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

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

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

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