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

Wims, 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 Wims surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wims in America

Wims is the 25083rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wims surname appeared 990 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 Wims.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wims 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 Wims

The surname Wims is believed to have its origins in the British Isles, dating back to the medieval period. Most likely emerging from the regions of England, particularly in counties such as Yorkshire and Lancashire, the name may have derived from Old English or Anglo-Saxon roots.

One theory suggests that Wims could be a variant of the surname Wimps, which itself is an alteration of the Old English personal name Wymund. This name is composed of the elements "wig," meaning battle or war, and "mund," meaning protection. Therefore, Wymund translates to "protector in battle."

Historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries indicate early appearances of the name Wims in various manuscripts. For example, a William Wymund was noted in Lancashire archives around 1273. The surname appears to have undergone various spellings, including Wymes and Wimms, as literacy and record-keeping improved over the centuries.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the Wims surname can be traced to church registers from the late 1500s. In the year 1598, a John Wims appears in parish records in Yorkshire, marking one of the first instances where the surname was documented in its current form.

The Wims name has been borne by several notable individuals throughout history. In the 17th century, a merchant named Thomas Wims is recorded doing trade between Bristol and London, documented in port records from 1664. Another prominent figure is Sir Edward Wims, a knight who served under King Charles II and has texts mentioning his contributions during the year 1679.

In the realm of literature, Martha Wims, born in 1723, was known for her poetic compositions that were occasionally published in local periodicals in Norwich, England. Her works often explored themes of rural life and social justice, gaining a modest readership in her time.

During the 19th century, James Wims, born in 1811, became a well-regarded figure in the community of Manchester. He contributed significantly to local governance and was a part of the city council, as evidenced in municipal records from 1873.

Another interesting historical reference is the case of Abigail Wims, a pioneering figure in women's education in the 18th century. Born in 1767, she founded one of the first schools for girls in Leicester, an endeavor supported by various philanthropists and documented in educational reform records of the early 1800s.

All in all, the surname Wims carries a tapestry of historical significance, from its possible war-protector origins to its appearances in various records and notable bearers across centuries in England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wims

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

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

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

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