2000
#136,783
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Wohlhueter
A German surname meaning "one who takes good care" or "benefactor".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 115 Americans carry the last name Wohlhueter. That puts it at #155,682 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,980,473 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wohlhueter 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
115
1 in 2,980,473
Census rank
#155,682
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
100
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 100 bearers of the surname Wohlhueter in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 155682nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wohlhueter, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.0%) and Two or More Races (3.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Wohlhueter
The surname Wohlhueter has its origins in Germany, emerging prominently during the medieval period. It is a compound surname from the High German dialect combining the words 'wohl' meaning 'well' and 'hueter' meaning 'guard' or 'protector.' This surname likely finds its roots among individuals known for their vigilant and caring roles within their communities, perhaps as guardians or watchmen.
Historical records suggest that the name Wohlhueter was prevalent in regions such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The surname appeared in local registries as early as the 14th century, evident in records of land ownership and civic duties. For instance, a Hans Wohlhueter is documented in the city of Augsburg in 1385, serving as a local watchman, reflecting the etymological meaning of the surname.
Spelling variations of Wohlhueter have been recorded over centuries due to regional dialects and the phonetic evolution of the German language. The surname appears as Wolhüter and Wohlhüter in various ecclesiastical and civil records. Each variant retains the original connotation of a protector or custodian, consistent with the occupational roles attributed to individuals bearing the name.
In the 15th century, a notable reference to the surname Wohlhueter is found in the chronicles of the city of Nuremberg, where a Mathias Wohlhueter is listed among the council members. This historical reference indicates the surname's association with roles of civic responsibility and leadership.
The 16th century saw another prominent figure, Georg Wohlhueter, a noted merchant in Vienna who played a significant role in trade between German-speaking regions and other European territories. His influence is well-documented in trade registries and merchant guild records, illustrating the surname's connection to commercial success and influence.
By the 17th century, the surname Wohlhueter appears in the context of the Thirty Years' War, with records of Christoph Wohlhueter, a military leader from Württemberg. His strategic contributions to local defenses underscore the surname's historical significance tied to protection and guardianship.
In the 19th century, the Wohlhueter name gained recognition in the academic world through Ludwig Wohlhueter, an esteemed scholar and professor at the University of Heidelberg. His research in natural sciences brought prominence to the name within educational circles, marking a transition of the surname into intellectual and scholarly domains.
Each recorded individual and occurrence of the surname Wohlhueter through history reinforces its thematic origins in guardianship, protection, and community service. The name continues to bear a legacy tied to vigilance, care, and leadership, esteemed in various professional and social contexts across centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wohlhueter
Among Census respondents with the surname Wohlhueter, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.0%) and Two or More Races (3.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Wohlhueter 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 Wohlhueter surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.0% · 91
- Hispanic or Latino4.0% · 4
- Two or more races3.0% · 3
- Black or African American1.0% · 1
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Wohlhueter
Wohlhueter 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
#134,712
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 125
+12 bearers (+10.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 2,071 places
2020
#155,682
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 100
-25 bearers (-20.0%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 20,970 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #136,783 | 113 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #134,712 | 125 | 0.04 | +12 bearers (+10.6%) | Up 2,071 places |
| 2020 | #155,682 | 100 | 0.03 | -25 bearers (-20.0%) | Down 20,970 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 Wohlhueter 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 | #134,712 | #155,682 | -15.6% |
| Count | 125 | 100 | -20.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -16.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Wohlhueter bearers went from 125 to 100 (-20.0% change). The surname moved down 20,970 positions in the national ranking, going from #134,712 to #155,682.
FAQ
Wohlhueter surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Wohlhueter?
Name Census estimates that about 115 living Americans carry the surname Wohlhueter. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,980,473 residents.
How common is Wohlhueter?
Wohlhueter ranks #155,682 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 100 people with the surname Wohlhueter. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (115), 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 Wohlhueter.
Has Wohlhueter become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Wohlhueter went from 125 recorded bearers to 100. That is a decrease of 25 (-20.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #134,712 to #155,682.
What does the Census say about the background of Wohlhueter?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wohlhueter, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.0%) and Two or More Races (3.0%). 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 Wohlhueter in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.0% (91 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Wohlhueter appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.0%), Hispanic (4.0%), Two or More Races (3.0%). 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 Wohlhueter (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 Wohlhueter mean?
A German surname meaning "one who takes good care" or "benefactor". 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 Wohlhueter (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 are called Wohlhueter?
Find out how common the surname Wohlhueter is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.