Woolverton last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Woolverton

A surname derived from an English place name meaning "farm where wool is produced or sold."

Woolverton, 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 Woolverton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Woolverton in America

Woolverton is the 22880th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Woolverton surname appeared 1,119 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 Woolverton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Woolverton 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 22880 21244 7.42%
Count 1,119 1,151 -2.82%
Proportion per 100k 0.38 0.43 -12.35%

The history of the last name Woolverton

The surname Woolverton originates from England and is primarily associated with the medieval period. Its earliest known roots can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era, likely around the 11th century. The name is believed to have originated in the county of Warwickshire, although it could also be connected to other parts of central England. It is derived from the Old English words "wulf," meaning wolf, and "tun," meaning settlement or enclosure. Over time, these words fused to form Woolverton, indicating a settlement associated with wolves or a place where wolves were found.

Woolverton is connected to various historical references and records. The earliest documented instances of surnames in England appear in records like the Domesday Book of 1086, although the exact presence of Woolverton in that record is speculative. Historical records from the 13th century show variations of the name such as Wolverton, Wolferston, and Wolfertson. Manuscripts from this period often documented the transactions, land holdings, and familial ties of individuals bearing such surnames, providing insight into their social and economic status.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Woolverton appears in the late 13th century. In 1296, a John de Wolverton is mentioned in tax records from Warwickshire. This instance is significant as it highlights the social stature and responsibilities of people bearing this surname. Wolverton later evolved into Woolverton through regional dialects and linguistic shifts over subsequent centuries.

A prominent individual with the surname was Sir John Woolverton, a figure from the early 15th century, born around 1410 and died in 1466. He was known for his service to the King and contributions to the local governance in Warwickshire. Another notable person bearing the surname was Thomas Woolverton, a merchant in London in the mid-16th century. His trading ventures and wealth accumulation positioned him as an influential figure during the Tudor period.

The Woolverton surname also appears in American colonial history. Edward Woolverton, born in 1620 and died in 1687, emigrated to New England in the mid-17th century, becoming one of the early settlers. His descendants played significant roles in the formation and growth of the American colonies, with several members participating in the Revolutionary War.

In the literary world, the surname gained some prominence through the works of Victor E. Woolverton, an author and historian born in 1860, who extensively wrote about English surnames and genealogy. His exploration of the Woolverton lineage helped to preserve and elucidate the historical context of families bearing this name.

Finally, William Woolverton, a 19th-century industrialist, born in 1821 and died in 1889, made significant contributions to the burgeoning industries in the Midlands. His entrepreneurial ventures and philanthropic efforts left a lasting legacy in the regions associated with his family name.

Overall, the Woolverton surname encapsulates a rich historical narrative, reflecting the evolving linguistic, social, and economic tapestry of England and its diaspora.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Woolverton

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

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 Woolverton was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 94.46% 1,057
Non-Hispanic Black Only 1.43% 16
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.16% 13
Hispanic Origin 2.32% 26

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 94.46% 95.66% -1.26%
Black 1.43% 1.65% -14.29%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.16% 1.30% -11.38%
Hispanic 2.32% 0.70% 107.28%

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

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

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

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

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

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