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

Wolfenbarger, 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 Wolfenbarger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wolfenbarger in America

Wolfenbarger is the 14349th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wolfenbarger surname appeared 2,085 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Wolfenbarger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wolfenbarger 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 Wolfenbarger

The surname Wolfenbarger is of German origin, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria, where the name was first recorded in the 13th century.

The name Wolfenbarger is a compound word derived from the German words "wolf" and "barg," which translates to "wolf mountain" or "wolf hill." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have lived near a prominent hill or mountain associated with wolves.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Wolfenbarger name can be found in the Bavarian town records from the year 1298, where a certain Hans Wolfenbarger is mentioned as a landowner. It is likely that this individual adopted the name as a reference to the location of his property or homestead.

In the 16th century, the Wolfenbarger name appeared in various historical documents, including the records of the Holy Roman Empire. During this period, a notable figure named Johann Wolfenbarger (1522-1591) gained recognition as a skilled artisan and craftsman, specializing in the production of intricate woodcarvings for churches and noble households.

As the Wolfenbarger family dispersed throughout various regions of Germany, the spelling of the name underwent slight variations, such as Wolfenbärger, Wolffenberger, and Wolffenbarger. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and scribal interpretations.

In the 18th century, a prominent Wolfenbarger family established themselves in the city of Nuremberg, where they were known for their involvement in the local textile trade. One member, Heinrich Wolfenbarger (1734-1812), gained recognition as a successful merchant and philanthropist, contributing significantly to the city's economic and social development.

Another noteworthy individual bearing the Wolfenbarger surname was Wilhelm Wolfenbarger (1809-1879), a renowned German philosopher and academic. He held prominent positions at various universities and authored several influential works on ethics and metaphysics.

As the Wolfenbarger name spread beyond Germany, it found its way to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas through immigration. Over time, this surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, contributing to its rich and varied history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wolfenbarger

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

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

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

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