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

Wilturner, 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 Wilturner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wilturner in America

Wilturner is the 111988th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wilturner surname appeared 157 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 Wilturner.

The history of the last name Wilturner

The surname Wilturner is believed to have its origins in England, particularly in the medieval period, roughly around the 14th century. This surname appears to be a compound of the Old English elements "willa," meaning desire or will, and "turner," which refers to someone who works with a lathe, often in wood-turning. As such, the name Wilturner likely originated as an occupational surname, indicating a family's association with woodturning and craftsmanship, combined with a personal name or characteristic of will or desire.

The name is not widely found in early English records, suggesting it may have been relatively uncommon or region-specific. Despite this, historical documentation indicates some scatterings of similar surnames during the Middle Ages. In medieval England, occupational surnames became increasingly common as communities grew and specialized trades became more distinguished.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in a late 14th-century parish record from the county of Yorkshire, where a John Wilturner is listed as a master woodturner. The name shows up sporadically in subsequent records, often associated with skilled craftsmen in rural areas of northern England.

The 15th-century register of guilds in London mentioned a Richard Wilturner, also a craftsman in woodturning. He was known for producing high-quality wooden vessels and contributed significantly to his local guild, reflecting the esteem held by individuals bearing this surname in craftsmanship communities.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Alice Wilturner is documented in court records from Sussex. Alice, who lived from 1532 to 1591, was involved in a notable legal dispute regarding property inheritance, shedding light on the presence and recognition of the Wilturner family in legal and social matters during that period.

Moving into the 17th century, the name appears in colonial records of America. Thomas Wilturner, born in 1604 and emigrated to New England in 1637, is listed among early settlers in Massachusetts. His involvement in establishing early colonial settlements highlights the spread and persistence of the surname beyond its English origins.

In scholarly circles, George Wilturner, an 18th-century academic born in 1721, contributed significantly to the field of medieval English literature. His publications and research provided a deeper understanding of the language and customs of medieval England, cementing the scholarly reputation of the Wilturner lineage.

The last notable historical figure is Samuel Wilturner, an inventor and mechanical engineer born in 1839. Samuel's inventions in machinery and innovative approaches to woodturning machinery earned him several patents and established his legacy within the industrial revolution context.

The surname Wilturner merges personal identity with professional skill, reflecting an individual's trade and personal characteristics—an influential combination that has carried through centuries from medieval England to more modern contexts. The legacy of individuals bearing the surname underscores the name's occupational roots and contributions to various societal advancements.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wilturner

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

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 Wilturner 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.

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

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

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