2000
#21,916
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,104
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.41
Rare Last name
Wohlford
From a German-origin place name meaning "wealthy or prosperous ford".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,321 Americans carry the last name Wohlford. That puts it at #22,823 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.39 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 259,466 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wohlford 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
1.3K
1 in 259,466
Census rank
#22,823
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,152 bearers of the surname Wohlford in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.39 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 22823rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wohlford, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.2%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Wohlford
The surname Wohlford is of Germanic origin, deriving from the country of Germany. The name dates back to the early Middle Ages, with the initial roots found in the regions of Bavaria and the Rhineland. The etymology of Wohlford is contested, but it appears to be a compound of the German words "wohl," meaning well or good, and "ford," referring to a shallow place in a river or stream where it can be crossed. This suggests that the original bearers of the name likely lived near a well-known ford or perhaps a place where the conditions were considered favorable or good.
Historical references to the surname Wohlford are relatively sparse, but one of the earliest recorded mentions appears in a 13th-century Bavarian manuscript, where a Johann Wohlford is listed as a landowner in the region. This record, dating to approximately 1273, indicates the name’s long-standing presence in southern Germany. Subsequent mentions in local town records and tax documents further support the idea that the Wohlfords held positions of some significance in their communities.
An alternative spelling of the name, Wohlfahrt, can be found in various German texts from the medieval period, suggesting a phonetic similarity and potential common ancestry between the bearers of these surnames. Another early example of the name can be seen in the 14th century. A Hans Wohlfort was a noted tradesman and guild member in the city of Mainz, active around 1382. His involvement in the local economy and civic affairs implies that the Wohlfords were both industrious and integral to urban growth during this period.
During the 17th century, the name appears more frequently in church registers, such as the case of Matthias Wohlford, born in 1605 in Nuremberg. Matthias is recorded as a master craftsman and member of the local Lutheran congregation. His contributions both to his craft and his community reinforce the idea that the Wohlfords were well-known and respected in their regions.
The surname made its way to the New World in the 18th century, notably through the figure of Heinrich Wohlford, who emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1742. Heinrich's arrival and subsequent integration into colonial American society represent the spread of the surname beyond Europe. Despite the maritime challenges of the time, Heinrich established himself as a farmer and raised a considerable family, ensuring the continuation of the Wohlford lineage in the United States.
Among the notable bearers of the name in more recent history is Dr. Jacob Wohlford, born in 1843 and deceased in 1908. A physician and academic, Dr. Wohlford made significant contributions to medical practices in the Midwest, further cementing the family's influence and legacy in various professional fields.
The Wohlford surname, with its rich Germanic origins and varied historical references, showcases a lineage of individuals who have been integral to their communities over the centuries. From medieval landowners and tradesmen to modern professionals and emigrants, the Wohlford name is imbued with a sense of continuity and resilience that speaks to its enduring legacy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wohlford
Among Census respondents with the surname Wohlford, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.2%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Wohlford 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 Wohlford surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.0% · 1,060
- Hispanic or Latino3.2% · 37
- Two or more races2.5% · 29
- Black or African American1.0% · 11
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7% · 8
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 7
Timeline
Historical Census data for Wohlford
Wohlford appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#23,978
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,052
-52 bearers (-4.7%)
Per 100,000 0.36
Rank movement Down 2,062 places
2020
#22,823
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,152
+100 bearers (+9.5%)
Per 100,000 0.39
Rank movement Up 1,155 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #21,916 | 1,104 | 0.41 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #23,978 | 1,052 | 0.36 | -52 bearers (-4.7%) | Down 2,062 places |
| 2020 | #22,823 | 1,152 | 0.39 | +100 bearers (+9.5%) | Up 1,155 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 Wohlford 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 | #23,978 | #22,823 | 4.8% |
| Count | 1,052 | 1,152 | 9.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.36 | 0.39 | 7.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Wohlford bearers went from 1,052 to 1,152 (+9.5% change). The surname moved up 1,155 positions in the national ranking, going from #23,978 to #22,823.
FAQ
Wohlford surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Wohlford?
Name Census estimates that about 1,321 living Americans carry the surname Wohlford. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 259,466 residents.
How common is Wohlford?
Wohlford ranks #22,823 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.39 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 1,152 people with the surname Wohlford. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (1,321), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.39 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.39 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 Wohlford.
Has Wohlford become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Wohlford went from 1,052 recorded bearers to 1,152. That is an increase of 100 (+9.5%). In the national ranking it rose from #23,978 to #22,823.
What does the Census say about the background of Wohlford?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wohlford, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.2%) and Two or More Races (2.5%). 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 Wohlford in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.0% (1,060 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Wohlford appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.0%), Hispanic (3.2%), Two or More Races (2.5%). 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 Wohlford (2000, 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 Wohlford mean?
From a German-origin place name meaning "wealthy or prosperous ford". 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 Wohlford (0.39 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 last name Wohlford?
You can see how many people are called Wohlford on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.