2010
#147,253
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Wolridge
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "wolf ridge" or "ridge frequented by wolves."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 116 Americans carry the last name Wolridge. That puts it at #155,270 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,954,779 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wolridge 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
116
1 in 2,954,779
Census rank
#155,270
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
101
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 101 bearers of the surname Wolridge in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 155270th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wolridge, the largest self-reported group is Black at 90.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.0%) and White (3.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Wolridge
The surname Wolridge is believed to have its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. The name is thought to be a locational surname, derived from a place of residence. Etymologically, it likely originates from the Old English "wulf," meaning wolf, and "hrycg," meaning ridge or crest, thus translating to "wolf's ridge." Such a name would typically denote someone who lived near a hillside frequented by wolves or in a region where wolves were prevalent.
One of the earliest documented records of the name appears in the 13th century. A notable reference is found in the Close Rolls of 1274, which document a Robert de Wolrugg. These rolls were administrative records kept by the clerks of the Chancery, listing actions taken by the monarchy and their officials, and they provide valuable insight into early forms of the surname.
During the Middle Ages, variants such as Wolrugge and Woolridge were also recorded. The variations in spelling are reflective of the time before standardized English spelling had been established, leading to multiple interpretations of the original name within local dialects and scribal preferences.
A prominent historical figure bearing the surname Wolridge was Sir Thomas Wolridge (1562-1628), a landowner in Bedfordshire known for his contributions to local governance and participation in the political spheres of his time. His estate in Bedfordshire is among the earliest known properties associated with the name.
In the 17th century, another noteworthy individual was John Wolridge (1620-1677), an English writer and agriculturalist known for his works on farming practices. His most famous book, "Systema Agriculturae," published in 1675, provided one of the early comprehensive guides on improving agricultural efficiency.
Moving forward to the 18th century, Edward Wolridge (1705-1781) emerged as a key figure in the wool trade in Yorkshire. His contributions to the burgeoning industrial landscape of England were instrumental as he expanded the family business into one of the dominant wool suppliers in the region.
In the 19th century, Samuel Wolridge (1833-1904) became notable as an influential engineer and inventor during the Industrial Revolution. He held several patents which revolutionized machinery used in the textile industry, bringing significant advancements to manufacturing processes of that era.
Towards the end of the 19th century, Sarah Wolridge (1857-1936) stood out for her philanthropic work. She dedicated much of her life to establishing schools and orphanages in underprivileged communities, particularly focusing on improving access to education for girls in rural areas.
The surname Wolridge has thus been borne by individuals who contributed significantly to a variety of fields, reflecting the diverse paths taken by those who carried this name through the centuries. Their legacies offer a rich tapestry of historical significance tied to the surname Wolridge, reaching back to its medieval English roots.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wolridge
Among Census respondents with the surname Wolridge, the largest self-reported group is Black at 90.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.0%) and White (3.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Wolridge 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 Wolridge surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American90.1% · 91
- Hispanic or Latino4.0% · 4
- White3.0% · 3
- American Indian and Alaska Native2.0% · 2
- Two or more races1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Wolridge
Wolridge appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#155,270
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 101
-11 bearers (-9.8%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 8,017 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #147,253 | 112 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #155,270 | 101 | 0.03 | -11 bearers (-9.8%) | Down 8,017 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 Wolridge 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 | #147,253 | #155,270 | -5.4% |
| Count | 112 | 101 | -9.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -15.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Wolridge bearers went from 112 to 101 (-9.8% change). The surname moved down 8,017 positions in the national ranking, going from #147,253 to #155,270.
FAQ
Wolridge surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Wolridge?
Name Census estimates that about 116 living Americans carry the surname Wolridge. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,954,779 residents.
How common is Wolridge?
Wolridge ranks #155,270 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 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 101 people with the surname Wolridge. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (116), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 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 Wolridge.
Has Wolridge become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Wolridge went from 112 recorded bearers to 101. That is a decrease of 11 (-9.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #147,253 to #155,270.
What does the Census say about the background of Wolridge?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wolridge, the largest self-reported group is Black at 90.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.0%) and White (3.0%). 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?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Wolridge in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.1% (91 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Wolridge appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (90.1%), Hispanic (4.0%), White (3.0%). 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 Wolridge (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 Wolridge mean?
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "wolf ridge" or "ridge frequented by wolves." 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 Wolridge (0.03 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 are called Wolridge?
You can see how common the surname Wolridge is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.