2010
#148,347
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Woellhof
A German surname derived from a placename containing the elements "Wöll" meaning "wool" and "Hof" meaning "farm" or "court."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 117 Americans carry the last name Woellhof. That puts it at #154,755 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,929,524 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Woellhof surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
117
1 in 2,929,524
Census rank
#154,755
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
102
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 102 bearers of the surname Woellhof in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 154755th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Woellhof, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.8%) and Black (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Woellhof
The surname Woellhof is of German origin, emerging in regions that are now part of modern-day Germany. The surname dates back several centuries, with its roots likely found in the Middle Ages. The name is indicative of a geographical or topographical origin, deriving from words in the German language that would have described a particular place or type of landhold.
The surname Woellhof most probably derives from a combination of old Germanic elements. "Woell" may be connected to the word "wolle," which means wool, suggesting a historical connection to sheep farming or wool production. The suffix "hof" translates to a yard, court, or farmstead. Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived or worked on a wool farm or in an area associated with wool production.
The name Woellhof appears in historical records as early as the 14th century. Manuscripts from that time period contain references to individuals with surnames that bear similarity to Woellhof, indicating its long-standing presence. For instance, records from a 1372 tax document in the region of Franconia include a Johannes von Woellhof, shedding light on the name’s existence over six centuries ago.
Another early record is found in the church registry of the small town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in 1530, which mentions a Michael Woellhof, born in 1505 and known for his work in local governance. This entry highlights the prevalence of the name in specific German regions known for agriculture and trade.
In the 17th century, Andreas Woellhof, born in 1620 in the town of Nuremberg, gained recognition as a skilled craftsman and contributed to the construction of prominent structures in the region. His contributions are noted in construction records of the time, providing evidence of the name’s socio-economic impact.
The 18th century features the figure of Anna Maria Woellhof, born in 1712 in Augsburg. She was known for her intricate embroidery, which gained popularity across Europe. Her detailed work is documented in various trades records and provides insights into the artistic heritage associated with this surname.
In the 19th century, Gottfried Woellhof, born in 1798, played a significant role in the agricultural development of Bavaria. His innovations in farming techniques were well-documented by local agricultural societies and his efforts greatly influenced the cultivation practices in the region.
Louise Woellhof, born in 1856, was a pioneering educator in Berlin, known for her progressive teaching methods. She authored several educational texts that were widely adopted in German schools, making a lasting impact on the education system.
These historical figures illustrate the rich and varied history of the Woellhof surname, highlighting its geographical roots, socio-economic significance, and cultural contributions throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Woellhof
Among Census respondents with the surname Woellhof, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.8%) and Black (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Woellhof bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Woellhof surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White85.3% · 87
- Hispanic or Latino10.8% · 11
- Black or African American2.0% · 2
- Two or more races2.0% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Woellhof
Woellhof appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#154,755
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
-9 bearers (-8.1%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 6,408 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #148,347 | 111 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #154,755 | 102 | 0.03 | -9 bearers (-8.1%) | Down 6,408 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Woellhof surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #148,347 | #154,755 | -4.3% |
| Count | 111 | 102 | -8.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -14.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Woellhof bearers went from 111 to 102 (-8.1% change). The surname moved down 6,408 positions in the national ranking, going from #148,347 to #154,755.
FAQ
Woellhof surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Woellhof?
Name Census estimates that about 117 living Americans carry the surname Woellhof. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,929,524 residents.
How common is Woellhof?
Woellhof ranks #154,755 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 102 people with the surname Woellhof. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (117), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Woellhof.
Has Woellhof become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Woellhof went from 111 recorded bearers to 102. That is a decrease of 9 (-8.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #148,347 to #154,755.
What does the Census say about the background of Woellhof?
Among Census respondents with the surname Woellhof, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.8%) and Black (2.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Woellhof in the 2020 Census, accounting for 85.3% (87 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Woellhof appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (85.3%), Hispanic (10.8%), Black (2.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Woellhof (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Woellhof mean?
A German surname derived from a placename containing the elements "Wöll" meaning "wool" and "Hof" meaning "farm" or "court." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Woellhof (0.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Woellhof?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.