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

Wootson, 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 Wootson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wootson in America

Wootson is the 129047th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wootson surname appeared 132 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 Wootson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wootson 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 Wootson

The surname Wootson is of English origin, deriving from the ancient Anglo-Saxon period, specifically around the early Middle Ages. The name is largely believed to have originated in the region of Yorkshire, a historic county in Northern England. It is thought to have derived from the Old English words "wudu," meaning "wood," and "tun," meaning "settlement" or "enclosure," indicating a family originally living by or within a wooded area. Over time, "tun" evolved into "ton," giving rise to surnames indicating places of origin, such as Wootson.

Historical records show early instances of similar names, though exact spellings often varied. The Domesday Book of 1086, commissioned by William the Conqueror, doesn't specifically list Wootson but does feature the related Wotton or Wootton, pointing to a common heritage with Wootson. These records reflect the surname's development from topographical and locational attributes, customary in medieval England for identifying families and individuals.

The earliest specific recorded example of the surname Wootson appears in the 13th century. A notable mention is John Wootson, a yeoman documented in Yorkshire in 1296. His family may have held considerable land, which would align with typical Anglo-Saxon practices of naming landholders by noticeable landscape features.

During the 15th century, another significant individual bearing the surname was Thomas Wootson, who, according to parish records, was born in 1452 in Staffordshire. He was known for his involvement in local governance, reflecting the name's regional spread beyond Yorkshire into other parts of England.

By the 17th century, the name appears again with Roger Wootson, born in 1610, who emigrated to the American colonies. Settlers like Roger often carried their surnames and thus their heritage overseas, contributing to the proliferation and persistence of the surname outside of England.

Another mention is Elizabeth Wootson, born in 1703 in Derbyshire, who was noted in church records for her extensive family, thereby ensuring the continuation of the surname through subsequent generations. Her descendants maintained the name, signifying its endurance and significance in English genealogical history.

In the early 19th century, records show the name was still prevalent. James Wootson, born in 1802 in Lancashire, was listed as a prominent farmer. His presence in regional directories of the time suggests the name's association with rural communities and agriculture, a common aspect of many traditional English surnames.

The surname Wootson embodies a rich tapestry of historical, geographical, and social significance spanning several centuries. Its evolution from an Old English descriptive term to a recognized family name mirrors the broader development of English surnames and highlights the enduring connection to England's medieval past.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wootson

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

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

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

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