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

Wolfram, 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 Wolfram surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wolfram in America

Wolfram is the 15347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wolfram surname appeared 1,911 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 Wolfram.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wolfram 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 Wolfram

The surname Wolfram has its origins in German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly in areas that are now part of Germany and Austria. The earliest occurrences of the surname date back to the Middle Ages. Wolfram is composed of two Old High German words: "wolf," meaning wolf, and "hraban," meaning raven. These two animals were significant in Germanic pagan traditions and often symbolized strength and wisdom.

The name Wolfram appears in historical records from the 12th century. An early significant figure is Wolfram von Eschenbach, a medieval German knight and poet born around 1170 and died circa 1220. He is best known for his epic poems, including Parzival and Willehalm, and is considered one of the greatest epic poets of medieval Germany.

In the medieval German Roll of Names, Wolfram surfaces frequently, indicating its prevalence among the nobility and warrior classes. The name was often spelt as Wolfrahm in certain regions, reflecting dialectical differences. One of the earliest records of the name Wolfram appears in church registers from the 13th century, particularly in Bavaria.

Another historical figure named Karl von Wolfram, a notable military officer, was born in 1530 and became a significant figure during the Austro-Turkish wars in the 16th century. His role in the defense of Vienna against the Ottoman Empire remains celebrated in military annals.

During the Enlightenment, Johannes Wolfram, born in 1741 and died in 1801, gained recognition as a scholar and inventor. His contributions to early mechanical engineering and his treatises on the subject were influential in the spread of technical knowledge across Europe.

In the field of natural sciences, Ludwig Wolfram, an influential 19th-century botanist, made notable contributions to plant taxonomy. Born in 1825 and died in 1891, his classification work on Alpine flora remains referenced in botanical studies.

The Wolfram surname also appears in place names in Germany. A village named Wolframs-Eschenbach, named after the poet Wolfram von Eschenbach, highlights the geographical spread and historical significance of the name.

The etymological roots and historical significance of the surname Wolfram show its deep connection with Germanic tradition, history, and culture. From medieval poetry to military defense and scientific advancements, individuals bearing the Wolfram surname have left notable marks in history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wolfram

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

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

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

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