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

Wolowitz, 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 Wolowitz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wolowitz in America

Wolowitz is the 141140th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wolowitz surname appeared 118 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 Wolowitz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wolowitz 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 Wolowitz

The surname Wolowitz has its origins in Eastern Europe, specifically among the Jewish communities of Poland and Russia. The name is derived from the Polish name "Wolowice" or the Russian name "Volovitz," both of which refer to a place name meaning "field of oxen" derived from the Slavic root "vol," meaning "ox." This suggests that the early bearers of the surname likely lived in regions that were characterized by cattle raising or were somehow involved in the livestock industry.

The surname Wolowitz first appeared in historical records in the late 17th to early 18th century. One of the earliest known references to the name is found in a Jewish population census conducted in Poland during the early 1700s. Families bearing the surname were noted in areas such as Warsaw and Krakow, which were significant centers of Jewish life and culture at the time. Variants of the surname, such as Wolowicz and Volovitz, were also recorded in official documents and community records.

One notable historical figure with the surname Wolowitz is Rabbi Avraham Wolowitz, born in 1770 and died in 1845. He was a well-respected rabbi in the town of Kołomyja, which is now in modern-day Ukraine. His scholarly work and contributions to Jewish thought were widely recognized, and his descendants continued to play prominent roles in the Jewish community of Eastern Europe.

In the 19th century, the Wolowitz surname appeared in a number of immigration records as families migrated to the United States to escape political unrest and seek better economic opportunities. One of the more prominent immigrants was Isaac Wolowitz, born in 1824, who settled in New York City in 1850 and became a successful merchant. His business acumen and involvement in the Jewish community contributed significantly to the establishment of various charitable organizations.

A later figure of historical interest is Miriam Wolowitz, born in 1889 and died in 1954. She was an early advocate for women's rights within the Jewish community and was instrumental in founding several educational institutions for Jewish girls in Poland. Her efforts were pivotal in providing access to education for women and enhancing their roles within Jewish society.

One more individual bearing the surname was Solomon Wolowitz, born in 1900 and died in 1975. He was a prominent lawyer and social activist in pre-World War II Europe. Solomon's work in defending Jewish rights and assisting in efforts to combat anti-Semitism made him a notable figure in Jewish history. His writings and public speeches were influential during a turbulent period in European history.

The surname Wolowitz, seen through its historical usage and the significant individuals who carried it, reflects a rich cultural and social heritage tied to the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe. It signifies a lineage both anchored in specific regional origins and emblematic of broader historical movements and social contributions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wolowitz

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

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

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

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