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

Wings, 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 Wings surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wings in America

Wings is the 121590th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wings surname appeared 142 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 Wings.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wings 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 Wings

The surname Wings is relatively rare and intriguing, with its roots believed to be in England. The origins of the name likely trace back to the Old English period, around the 9th to 12th centuries. The name possibly derives from the Old English word "wenge" or "winc," which referred to something that was winged or resembled a wing, signifying someone who had a connection to or characteristic of wings.

The primary area associated with the surname Wings is likely the county of Lincolnshire in England. This connects to the village of Wing, although some records also suggest connections to the counties of Buckinghamshire and Rutland. The village of Wing in Buckinghamshire gives us clues to the etymological roots, where the name may have referred to someone who was from or worked in this location.

Historical references to the surname Wings appear sporadically in old manuscripts. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls from 1170, where a William de Wenge is noted. This suggests that the name was initially toponymic, originating from a place named Wing.

In the 14th century, a notable bearer of the surname was John Wings, recorded in the Assize Rolls of 1301. During the same period, records also mention a Richard Wings, who was documented in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, indicating that the surname had begun to establish itself outside its place-based origins.

The centuries that followed saw the rare usage of the surname Wings. One notable individual was Thomas Wings, a merchant from London born in 1567 who made significant contributions to his local community. Another was Edward Wings, an early settler in the American colonies during the 17th century, documented as having arrived in Massachusetts in 1635.

Mary Wings, born in 1789 in Dorset, is another historical figure who carried this surname into the 19th century. Lastly, Joseph Wings, born in 1824 and a notable figure in Hampshire, exemplifies the carrying on of this surname into the more modern historical periods.

Consistently, the surname Wings has been linked with individuals who hold significant, though often localized, roles in their respective communities throughout history. Its rare presence makes it a unique chapter in the study of onomatology.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wings

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

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

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

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