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

Wotring, 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 Wotring surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wotring in America

Wotring is the 22301st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wotring surname appeared 1,156 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 Wotring.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wotring 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 Wotring

The surname Wotring is believed to have originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe, specifically areas that are part of modern-day Germany. The earliest roots of the name can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 12th to 14th centuries, when surnames began to be documented with greater regularity. The name Wotring is thought to derive from an Old Germanic given name or a combination of elements referring to a familial or locational attribute.

During the medieval era, it was common for surnames to develop from descriptors of a person's occupation, their father's name, or a notable geographical feature near where they lived. Wotring may be derived from an older Germanic word such as "wot," meaning "watchful," combined with a suffix indicating a specific region or familial descent. Another possibility is that it has locational origins, linked to a specific village or landmark that no longer exists or has since changed names.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of a name resembling Wotring appears in the 14th century European archives, though exact records have often been difficult to pinpoint due to variations in spelling over time. Early recordings could include variations like Watring, Wodring, or Wottrich, reflecting the phonetic interpretations of scribes who preserved these names in written form.

An interesting historical figure bearing this surname is Hans Wotring, born circa 1645, who was known to have settled in what is now southwestern Germany. His descendants moved to various parts of Europe and later to North America, as the name continued to evolve in its form and spelling. Records from the 17th and 18th centuries show a Johan Wotring emigrating to the American colonies, suggesting the surname had begun making its way across the Atlantic by that time.

Matthias Wotring, another notable bearer of the name, was born in 1730 and is recognized for his contributions to the early settlements in Pennsylvania, USA. His historical footprint is evidenced in various colonial records documenting land transactions and civic participation, implying that the surname played a part in the early European-American narrative.

Elisabeth Wotring, born in 1765, was one of the early European settlers in Ohio, USA, another key figure whose life throws light on the presence and spread of the surname during the westward expansion of the United States. Her family maintained the surname through generations, contributing to the historical records of that region.

Frederick Wotring, born in 1810, made significant contributions to local communities in the United States through farming and public service. His life was well-documented in various county histories, reflecting the Wotring surname's establishment in American soil over several generations.

The Wotring surname's history has also been touched by notable people in more recent history, such as William Wotring, born in 1881, who was a prominent figure in local politics in Ohio. His participation in government and community activities made him a recognized name in early 20th-century local histories.

Tracing the surname Wotring provides a fascinating glimpse into the migration patterns, socio-economic changes, and cultural integrations of European families over several centuries. The name's Germanic origins, varied spellings, and notable bearers across different eras showcase the dynamic nature of surnames and their ability to adapt and persist across generations and geographies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wotring

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

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

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

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