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

Wootten, 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 Wootten surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wootten in America

Wootten is the 21895th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wootten surname appeared 1,186 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 Wootten.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wootten 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 Wootten

The surname Wootten has its origins in medieval England, emerging around the late 12th century. It is a locational name, traditionally derived from the Old English words "wudu," meaning "wood," and "tun," meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." Thus, Wootten essentially means "settlement near the wood." The name is believed to have first appeared in the southwestern parts of England, particularly in counties such as Wiltshire and Hampshire.

The earliest known references to the surname appear in medieval manuscripts and public records. One of the earliest records is from the Domesday Book of 1086, where the name appears in various forms such as Wodetone and Wodeton. By the 13th century, the spelling Wotton became more standardized, reflecting the phonetic evolution of the English language over time.

In the 14th century, the name Wootten was found in the Subsidy Rolls, which were tax records, indicating the name's presence among the landed gentry and yeoman farmers. For instance, John de Wotton was recorded in the Wiltshire Subsidy Rolls of 1327. These records indicate that the Wootten family had established themselves as notable landowners in their respective communities.

One of the earliest notable bearers of the surname was Sir Nicholas Wotton, born in 1497 and died in 1567. He was a significant figure in Tudor England, serving as a diplomat and Lord Mayor of London. Another prominent individual was Anthony Wotton, born in 1561 and died in 1626, who was a respected theologian and a founder of Gresham College. His contributions to religious discourse during the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras were substantial.

In the 17th century, a notable Wootten was Captain Thomas Wotten, who is recorded to have served in the English Civil War on the side of the Parliamentarians. His military service during this turbulent period demonstrates the family's continued involvement in significant national events.

The Wootten name also appeared in the American colonies in the early 18th century. William Wootten, born around 1680, is listed as one of the early settlers in the Virginia Colony. His descendants continued to spread across the American South, contributing to the development of early American society.

One of the later historical figures with the surname was Edward Wootten, born in 1791 and died in 1856, an English physicist known for his work in the early study of electricity and magnetism. His scientific contributions were part of the broader enlightenment pursuits of his time.

Throughout history, the Wootten family name has evolved in spelling but has consistently been associated with places and people of significance, from medieval tax records to notable public figures in various domains. The etymological roots of the name connect it intimately with English topography and community settlement patterns, making it a surname rich in historical context and societal contribution.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wootten

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

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

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

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