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

Wimsatt, 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 Wimsatt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wimsatt in America

Wimsatt is the 21986th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wimsatt surname appeared 1,180 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 Wimsatt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wimsatt 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 Wimsatt

The surname Wimsatt is believed to have its origins in England. The name likely dates back to the medieval period, and its roots can be traced to specific geographic locations and linguistic influences prevalent in early English society. While the exact etymology of Wimsatt is somewhat speculative, it is generally thought to be derived from place names or descriptive terms used in ancient times.

Wimsatt may have evolved from the Old English words “wīc,” meaning “dwelling place” or “settlement,” and “sǣte,” meaning “dwellers” or “inhabitants.” These components suggest that the name might have originally referred to people living in a specific settlement. Over centuries, the pronunciation and spelling could have morphed into the surname we recognize today.

Historical records of the name Wimsatt are relatively sparse, but some instances can be found in local documents and censuses from medieval England. There are no mentions of the name in large compilations like the Domesday Book, which indicates that the name might have been localized or less common during that period.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the Wimsatt surname appears in a parish record from the late 16th century in the southeastern region of England. Notable among these early records is a John Wimsatt, who is listed in church documents from Kent around 1585. The Wimsatt family name seemed to have a significant presence in this area and neighboring counties during this time.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Wimsatt have gained recognition in various fields. William Kurtz Wimsatt (1907-1975) was a prominent American professor of English, literary theorist, and critic known for his contributions to New Criticism. Another noteworthy individual, W.K. (William Kurtz) Wimsatt Jr., born in 1949, followed in his namesake’s footsteps, making significant contributions to literary education and criticism.

A well-documented person is James Ives Wimsatt, born in 1831, who appeared in U.S. census records and was known for his agricultural contributions in Kentucky. Moving forward in time, the name perpetuates itself in academic circles, most notably with figures like Robert Wimsatt (1922-2012), who made substantial contributions to philosophy and theology.

While the name Wimsatt may not be widely recognized globally, its historical roots in England and the United States offer a rich tapestry of cultural and academic significance. The surname continues to be carried by individuals contributing to various fields, maintaining the legacy of a name steeped in history and tradition.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wimsatt

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

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

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

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