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

Wolde, 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 Wolde surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wolde in America

Wolde is the 47107th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wolde surname appeared 451 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 Wolde.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wolde 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 Wolde

The surname Wolde is believed to have originated from Germany, where it once emerged as part of the Old Saxon language usage. The name itself is derived from the Middle Low German word "wolt" meaning "forest" or "wood." This etymological origin is consistent with many surnames that evolved from geographical features or occupations.

Wolde was first recorded in the northern regions of Germany, particularly in areas such as Lower Saxony or Schleswig-Holstein. These areas were heavily forested, which likely influenced the derivation of the name. The spelling of Wolde has remained relatively consistent over time, though variations such as "Woldt" and "Woltt" have appeared in historical records.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Wolde can be traced back to the 14th century. A Hans Wolde is mentioned in a land deed from 1362 in what is now Lower Saxony. This suggests that the family may have held a position of some local importance, even during this early period.

In the 15th century, the name Wolde continued to appear in various documents. Notably, a Conrad Wolde was recorded in the urban registers of Bremen in 1483, indicating the spread of the surname into more urban areas. This period saw increased documentation of surnames due to more structured record-keeping in European cities.

Moving into the 17th century, Friedrich Wolde, born in 1624 in Hamburg, rose to prominence as a respected merchant. He played a crucial role in the Hanseatic League's trade networks, particularly between Germany and Scandinavia. His contributions significantly impacted the economic landscape of his time, and his death in 1691 was widely noted.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Johann Wolde, a 19th-century artist born in 1803 in Leipzig. Johann's work in the Romantic style gained him considerable acclaim, particularly for his landscape paintings that often depicted dense, atmospheric forests—a likely nod to the etymological roots of his surname. He passed away in 1872, leaving behind a legacy of celebrated works.

Wilhelm Wolde, a prominent figure in the early 20th century, was born in Berlin in 1885. He made significant contributions to early aeronautical engineering and was part of the pioneering efforts that led to the development of early aircraft during World War I. His death in 1942 marked the end of a notable career that had influenced the field of aviation.

Throughout history, the surname Wolde has been borne by individuals who made their mark in various domains—land deeds, commerce, art, and engineering. The name continues to evoke a connection to its origins linked to forests and wooded landscapes, a testament to the enduring legacy of surnames rooted in nature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wolde

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

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

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

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