Wolpert last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Wolpert

A surname derived from German words meaning "brave person" or "wolf person."

Wolpert, 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 Wolpert surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wolpert in America

Wolpert is the 21348th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wolpert surname appeared 1,227 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 Wolpert.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wolpert 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 21348 21694 -1.61%
Count 1,227 1,119 9.21%
Proportion per 100k 0.42 0.41 2.41%

The history of the last name Wolpert

The surname Wolpert originates from Germany, specifically from regions like Bavaria and the Rhineland, during the medieval period, likely around the 12th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old High German words "wolf" meaning wolf, and "beraht" meaning bright or famous. The wolf was a common symbol in Germanic culture, often associated with strength and courage. Over time, these elements merged to create the name Wolpert, signifying someone who was either a renowned or fearless individual.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wolpert can be linked to manuscripts and land records from the medieval period. For instance, records from the 13th century mention a Heinrich Wolpert who was a landowner in Bavaria, indicating that the name was well-established within local noble circles. This aligns with the use of surnames based on traits, occupations, or notable characteristics during that era in Germany.

The variant spellings of Wolpert include Wolber and Wolfford, which can be found in early documentation. These variations usually resulted from the phonetic spelling practices of scribes who recorded names based on their pronunciation. Historical records from the late 14th century in the Rhineland region include references to a Johannes Wolber, a notable merchant in Cologne, further demonstrating the presence of the surname in different forms.

Famous bearers of the surname Wolpert include Ernst Wolpert, born in 1780, who was a prominent figure in Bavarian politics during the early 19th century. Another notable individual was Maria Wolpert, an influential artist from the early 1600s whose works are still exhibited in some European museums. In the scientific community, Alfred Wolpert, born in 1824, made significant contributions to the field of chemistry and is often cited in scholarly works from the late 19th century.

During the Renaissance period, the name Wolpert can be found in records pertaining to academic achievements. For instance, Christoph Wolpert, who lived between 1567 and 1632, was a renowned scholar and translator, contributing to the spread of classical knowledge throughout Germany. His works are still referenced in modern academic circles for their depth and accuracy.

The history of the surname Wolpert is rich and varied, with its bearers making significant contributions across different fields and regions. From medieval landowners and Renaissance scholars to 19th-century politicians and scientists, the Wolpert name has left an indelible mark on history. The evolution and persistence of the surname over centuries highlight its deep-rooted significance in German heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wolpert

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

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 Wolpert was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 95.52% 1,172
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 1.39% 17
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.41% 5
Hispanic Origin 2.53% 31

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 Wolpert has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 95.52% 97.05% -1.59%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 1.39% 1.07% 26.02%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races 0.41% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 2.53% 1.16% 74.25%

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

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

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"Wolpert last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/wolpert-surname-popularity/.

"Wolpert last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/wolpert-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Wolpert last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/wolpert-surname-popularity/.

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