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

Wisdom, 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 Wisdom surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wisdom in America

Wisdom is the 5194th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wisdom surname appeared 6,734 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Wisdom.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wisdom 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 Wisdom

The surname Wisdom originated in England and is derived from the Old English word "wisdom," meaning "knowledge" or "understanding." This name was likely bestowed upon someone who possessed great wisdom or knowledge, or perhaps a teacher or scholar.

The earliest recorded instances of the Wisdom surname can be traced back to the 13th century, with records showing individuals bearing this name in various parts of England, such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Essex.

One of the earliest known references to the Wisdom surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dated 1273, which mentions a John Wisdom. Another early record is from the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a Richard Wisdom is listed.

The Wisdom name can also be linked to several place names in England, such as Wisdom Cottages in Dorset and Wisdom Hill in Lancashire. These place names may have influenced the surname or vice versa, as it was common for people to adopt surnames based on their place of origin or residence.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Wisdom surname. One such figure was Sir Robert Wisdom (1568-1651), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Callington in Cornwall. Another was John Wisdom (1904-1993), a British philosopher and logician who taught at the University of Cambridge and made significant contributions to the field of metaphysics.

Other notable individuals with the Wisdom surname include:

1. William Wisdom (1782-1854), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London.
2. Robert Wisdom (born 1953), an American actor best known for his roles in television series like "The Wire" and "Babylon 5."
3. Michael Wisdom (born 1957), a British film director and screenwriter who has directed several acclaimed independent films.
4. Hilary Wisdom (1924-2003), a British actress and singer who appeared in numerous stage productions and films during the mid-20th century.
5. John Wisdom (1904-1993), a British philosopher and logician who taught at the University of Cambridge and made significant contributions to the field of metaphysics.

While the Wisdom surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who emigrated from Britain over the centuries. Despite its widespread distribution, the name retains its connection to its English origins and the concept of wisdom and knowledge it represents.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wisdom

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

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

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

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