2000
#147,095
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Wolfla
A German surname indicating ancestry from the former German state of Wolfla.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 136 Americans carry the last name Wolfla. That puts it at #142,788 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,520,252 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wolfla 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
136
1 in 2,520,252
Census rank
#142,788
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
119
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 119 bearers of the surname Wolfla in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142788th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wolfla, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Wolfla
The surname Wolfla is believed to have originated in Germany, with roots tracing back to the medieval period. The name likely has connections to several regions within the Germanic lands, particularly in areas where wolf-related folklore and heraldry were prominent. The name Wolfla appears to be derived from the Old High German word "wolf," which signifies the animal wolf, combined with a diminutive or locative suffix, suggesting a relationship with wolves or a place associated with wolves. This etymology links the surname to the esteemed and often feared animal, underscoring the strength and cunning that wolves symbolized in medieval Germanic culture.
The earliest references to the surname Wolfla can be found in feudal records from the 13th and 14th centuries, particularly in the Bavarian and Swabian regions. Manuscripts from the period detail land transactions and feudal obligations involving individuals bearing the name, indicating that it was established within noble or landholding classes. For example, a Knight named Heinrich Wolfla was recorded in a 1315 document detailing his service to a local baron.
One notable early appearance of the name is in the 1372 registers of Augsburg, where a merchant by the name of Johannes Wolfla was noted for his contributions to the city's thriving trade industry. Johannes's engagement in commerce highlights the versatility of the surname's bearers, extending beyond purely martial associations and into the burgeoning urban economies of the time.
In the 15th century, the name became linked with local governance and academia. Albrecht Wolfla, born in 1423, served as a councilman in Nuremberg and was known for his patronage of the arts and sciences. His death in 1489 was marked by the erection of a commemorative tablet, indicating his respected status within the city.
The name continued to be documented in various forms, including Wolflein and Wolflow, throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. Martha Wolfla, born in 1586 in Munich, gained some notoriety for her writings on herbal medicine and natural remedies. Her works provide a unique glimpse into the daily life and health practices of her time. She passed away in 1643, leaving behind a compendium that would be referenced by later generations of healers.
Another significant figure bearing the surname was Hans Wolfla, an officer in the Thirty Years' War. Born in 1602, Hans distinguished himself in several key battles and was noted in military records for his strategic prowess. His contributions to the war effort are detailed in a 1653 military chronicle, and his death in battle in 1648 was commemorated by his surviving comrades.
Overall, the surname Wolfla encapsulates a rich tapestry of Germanic history, associated with noble lineage, commercial success, civic duty, and scholarly pursuits. The enduring legacy of individuals who bore the name throughout medieval and early modern Europe provides insight into the complex social and cultural dynamics of their times.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wolfla
Among Census respondents with the surname Wolfla, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Wolfla 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 Wolfla surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.1% · 112
- Hispanic or Latino3.4% · 4
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8% · 1
- Two or more races0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Wolfla
Wolfla 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
#149,395
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
+7 bearers (+6.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 2,300 places
2020
#142,788
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 119
+9 bearers (+8.2%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 6,607 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #147,095 | 103 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #149,395 | 110 | 0.04 | +7 bearers (+6.8%) | Down 2,300 places |
| 2020 | #142,788 | 119 | 0.04 | +9 bearers (+8.2%) | Up 6,607 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 Wolfla 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 | #149,395 | #142,788 | 4.4% |
| Count | 110 | 119 | 8.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -0.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Wolfla bearers went from 110 to 119 (+8.2% change). The surname moved up 6,607 positions in the national ranking, going from #149,395 to #142,788.
FAQ
Wolfla surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Wolfla?
Name Census estimates that about 136 living Americans carry the surname Wolfla. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,520,252 residents.
How common is Wolfla?
Wolfla ranks #142,788 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 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 119 people with the surname Wolfla. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (136), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 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 Wolfla.
Has Wolfla become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Wolfla went from 110 recorded bearers to 119. That is an increase of 9 (+8.2%). In the national ranking it rose from #149,395 to #142,788.
What does the Census say about the background of Wolfla?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wolfla, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.8%). 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 Wolfla in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.1% (112 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Wolfla appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (94.1%), Hispanic (3.4%), Asian/Pacific Islander (0.8%). 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 Wolfla (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 Wolfla mean?
A German surname indicating ancestry from the former German state of Wolfla. 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 Wolfla (0.04 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 Wolfla?
Want to know how many people have the last name Wolfla? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.