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

Wolven, 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 Wolven surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wolven in America

Wolven is the 68122nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wolven surname appeared 289 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 Wolven.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wolven 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 Wolven

The surname Wolven has its origins in the Low Countries, primarily in what is now modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands, and traces back to the medieval period, around the 12th to 14th centuries. The name is derived from the Middle Dutch word "wolve," meaning "wolf." This period saw surnames emerging from professions, personal characteristics, and animals, closely linked to the symbolism associated with these elements.

Several historical references point to early use of the surname Wolven. One of the oldest records is found in medieval Belgian manuscripts where the name was spelled as "Wolvin" or "Wolffen." The surname was likely to have been used to signify someone who either worked with wolves, lived near them, or possessed attributes associated with the wolf.

An early documented instance of the surname appears in a 13th-century register from Flanders, where a certain Johannes Wolven was mentioned as a landholder in 1278. This indicates the name had already been established and possibly passed down through generations by this time. The name appears sporadically in other domains, pointing to its usage spreading across various regions.

In the 15th century, a notable figure bearing this surname was Pieter Wolven, born in 1415, who served as a local magistrate in Antwerp. His involvement in regional governance during a period of significant political and social change indicates the surname's association with individuals of local influence.

The transition of the name into different languages can also be traced. For instance, when some families migrated to neighboring regions like Germany, the name sometimes morphed into "Wolfen." Martinus Wolfen, born in 1523 in the Rhineland, is another recorded individual who was a merchant engaged in trade across different European territories.

Further east, the Wolven name appears in records from the early 17th century with Hendrik Wolven, born in 1604 in Utrecht, the Netherlands. He was a noted academic who made contributions to early Renaissance explorations in natural philosophy. His scholarly works remain a testament to the widespread distribution and professional diversification of individuals bearing this surname.

Another pivotal historical record includes Elisabeth Wolvenaria, born in 1671, who is recognized in historical writings for her involvement in early feminist movements in Flanders. Her engagement in social work and literature highlights the name's connection to social activism and intellectual pursuits.

In more contemporary history, Franz Wolven, born in 1793 in Brussels, was a military officer well-respected for his service during the Napoleonic Wars. His military career and the ensuing memoirs provide a window into the experiences of people bearing this surname during significant European conflicts.

Throughout history, the surname Wolven encapsulates a variety of individual contributions, across different epochs and regions, reflecting its rich and diverse legacy. The evolution of the name through different spellings and its presence in various historical records underscores its enduring cultural and social significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wolven

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

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

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

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