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

Wooten, 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 Wooten surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wooten in America

Wooten is the 1123rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wooten surname appeared 31,249 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 11 people would have the surname Wooten.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wooten 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 Wooten

The surname Wooten is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "wudu" meaning "wood" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." The name likely referred to someone who lived near a wooded enclosure or settlement.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Wooten can be traced back to the 13th century in various counties across England, including Essex, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert de Wudeton, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1261.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a record of landowners in England, there are references to individuals with the surname Wooten or similar spellings such as Wudeton, Wotton, and Wootton. These entries provide valuable insights into the geographic distribution of the name during that time period.

Throughout history, the surname Wooten has undergone various spelling variations, including Wootton, Wotton, and Wooton. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the scribes who recorded the names.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Wooten was Sir Robert Wotton (c. 1463 - 1567), an English diplomat and courtier during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI. He served as the Lord Lieutenant of Kent and was known for his diplomatic missions to France and the Netherlands.

Another prominent individual was Sir Henry Wotton (1568 - 1639), an English author, diplomat, and courtier during the reigns of James I and Charles I. He is best known for his work as an ambassador to Venice and his famous quote, "An ambassador is an honest man sent to lie abroad for the commonwealth."

In the literary world, Sir Henry Wotton's nephew, Edward Wotton (1592 - 1667), was a notable English writer and poet. He is remembered for his poems and translations of works by Italian and Spanish authors.

Another figure of historical significance was William Wootten (c. 1609 - 1685), a English-born settler and landowner in colonial Maryland. He was one of the original patentees of St. Mary's County and played a crucial role in the early development of the colony.

In the realm of religion, John Wooten (1782 - 1842) was an English Wesleyan Methodist minister and author. He served as the President of the Wesleyan Conference in 1834 and wrote several influential works on Methodism.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the surname Wooten, showcasing its rich and diverse heritage across various fields and eras.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wooten

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

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

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

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