Wiuff last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Wiuff

An English surname derived from an outdated variant of the German word "wolf".

Wiuff, 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 Wiuff surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wiuff in America

Wiuff is the 134712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wiuff surname appeared 125 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 Wiuff.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wiuff 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.

20102000Change (%)
Rank1347121304433.22%
Count1251204.08%
Proportion per 100k0.040.040.00%

The history of the last name Wiuff

The surname Wiuff likely originates from Denmark, with its roots tracing back to medieval times. Denmark, as part of the Scandinavian region, has a rich history of surnames that evolved from patronymic practices, geographical locations, and occupations. Wiuff is not among the most common surnames, which suggests it may have regional specificity or origins in smaller communities.

The name Wiuff may have derived from a combination of medieval Danish words or could be a variation of similar-sounding names from the period. The etymology could be linked to landscape features or occupations, though specific ancient words that it derives from are difficult to pinpoint precisely due to the scarcity of historical records. Similar spellings could include variations like Wiuf or Wuff, showing the fluid nature of surname spelling in historical records.

One of the earliest records where the name Wiuff appears is in local Danish church registries from the 1600s. These registries were kept by local parishes to document baptisms, marriages, and burials, which were essential records of the community's history. In one such registry from the town of Aarhus in the year 1654, there is mention of a Hans Wiuff, a local farmer. This suggests the name was already being used as a hereditary surname by the mid-17th century.

Further historical references include a soldier named Anders Wiuff who served in the Danish-Norwegian army during the Great Northern War (1700-1721). His service records from 1707 mention his participation in various battles, providing insight into the use and spread of the surname among different social classes in Danish society.

In the 18th century, another notable bearer of the surname was Jens Wiuff, born in 1732, who was known for his role as a merchant in the thriving coastal trade of Denmark. His trade dealings, recorded in maritime logs and merchant guild records of Copenhagen, suggest the name had a presence in commercial and urban contexts.

By the 19th century, a significant figure with the surname was Peter Wiuff, a notable landowner and farmer in Jutland, Denmark, born in 1820 and died in 1889. Historical agricultural journals and local historical societies’ publications frequently mention him, indicating the name's continued association with land and agriculture across generations.

Finally, historian records from the early 20th century mention Karen Wiuff, who was born in 1875 and became one of Denmark’s pioneering women in the field of education. She played a significant role in the establishment of several schools in rural Denmark and contributed to educational reforms, making her a significant historical figure bearing this unique surname.

In summary, the surname Wiuff has its roots deeply embedded in Danish history, evolving over centuries from likely regional origins to being borne by individuals who contributed to various facets of Danish society, from agriculture to military service, and education. The surname’s journey through time paints a fascinating picture of its role and significance in Denmark’s historical tapestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wiuff

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

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 Wiuff was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only93.60%117
Non-Hispanic Black Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races0.00%0
Hispanic Origin5.60%7

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 Wiuff has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

20102000Change (%)
White93.60%95.83%-2.35%
Black(S)%0.00%(S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander(S)%0.00%(S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0.00%0.00%
Two or More Races0.00%(S)%(S)%
Hispanic5.60%(S)%(S)%

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

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

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