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

Wolfinger, 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 Wolfinger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wolfinger in America

Wolfinger is the 19933rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wolfinger surname appeared 1,346 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 Wolfinger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wolfinger 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 Wolfinger

The surname Wolfinger traces its origins to the German-speaking regions of Europe, primarily in what is now Germany. This surname dates back to the early medieval period, with the earliest records appearing around the 13th century. It originated from regions such as Bavaria and the Rhineland, areas known for their dense forests and abundant wildlife, including wolves.

Wolfinger is derived from the Middle High German words wolf, meaning wolf, and the suffix -inger, which is often used to denote someone from a certain place or a person associated with a specific characteristic or occupation. This surname likely began as a nickname for someone who exhibited the traits of a wolf, such as cunning or bravery, or may have been associated with a place where wolves were common.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in a 1361 document from Bavaria mentioning a Heinrich Wolfinger, a local farmer known for his cunning in protecting his livestock from wolf attacks. Another notable historical reference includes a manuscript from the 15th century, which references Ulrich Wolfinger, a forest ranger in the Rhineland in 1485.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in more formal records such as tax registers and guild memberships. For example, Hans Wolfinger, born in 1532 in Augsburg, served as a master craftsman in the local blacksmith's guild. His meticulous records and payment of guild dues make him one of the more traceable individuals bearing this surname from that era.

By the 17th century, the surname had spread to Switzerland, with records indicating a Johan Wolfinger, born in 1611, who later became a well-respected merchant in Zürich. His business dealings included regional trade and contributed to the economic fabric of the city during a time of growth and prosperity.

In the 18th century, a Wolfinger family emigrated to the United States, settling in Pennsylvania. Jakob Wolfinger, born in 1760, is noted for his role in the American Revolutionary War, where he served in the local militia. His contributions to early American society extend the reach of the surname across the Atlantic.

The name continued to be of note into the 19th century, with figures such as Karl Wolfinger, a noted Bavarian politician born in 1825, who played a crucial role in the local government during the transformative industrial era.

Spanning from medieval Europe to the early American colonies, the surname Wolfinger has a rich history rooted in the German-speaking regions, reflecting the social and occupational traits associated with wolves while leaving its mark on various historical records and notable individuals.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wolfinger

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

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

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

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