2000
#150,436
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 100
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Wrath
A transferred use of the English word meaning anger or rage.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 126 Americans carry the last name Wrath. That puts it at #149,446 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,720,273 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wrath surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Wrath with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
126
1 in 2,720,273
Census rank
#149,446
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
110
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 110 bearers of the surname Wrath in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 149446th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wrath, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.0%) and Black (4.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Wrath
The surname Wrath is an intriguing and somewhat rare surname, most likely originating from England. The name's etymology suggests that it might be derived from the Old English word "wræða," meaning "anger" or "rage." This would indicate that the surname was perhaps originally used to describe a person's temperament or disposition, possibly as a nickname for someone known for their intense emotions.
Historically, the surname Wrath appears in various records throughout medieval England. One of the earliest references to a similar name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, though not directly under Wrath, but in the variants such as Wroth or Wrotha. These early forms suggest that the name may have undergone evolution and slight changes in spelling over the centuries.
One of the earliest recorded examples of Wrath in historical documents appears in the 13th century. Henry Wrath, born around 1240, is noted in historical records as a landowner in the county of Essex. His name appears in a local deed, where land transactions and titles became essential for maintaining social and economic status during this period.
In the 15th century, the name Wrath makes another significant appearance. Thomas Wrath, born circa 1470, was a notable figure who served as a juror in several local trials in Kent. Historical manuscripts from this period reflect his participation in community governance and the importance of his role in maintaining local law and order.
During the Tudor period, another prominent individual bearing the surname Wrath was Elizabeth Wrath, born around 1535. She was cited in a legal dispute involving inheritance and property rights. This indicates that the Wrath family held considerable property and maintained a level of influence in their community.
In the 17th century, John Wrath, born 1602, appears in colonial American records. He emigrated from England to the American colonies, settling in what would later become Virginia. His name is documented in passenger lists and early colonial records, illustrating the migration patterns of English families during this period of expansion and settlement.
By the 18th century, the surname Wrath can be seen in parish records throughout England, including notable references like that of Samuel Wrath, born in 1715, who served as a parish clerk in the village of Wrabness, Essex. This positioning within a church and community setting highlights the continuing presence and involvement of individuals with the Wrath surname in English society.
Throughout history, the surname Wrath has been associated with a variety of roles and societal functions, ranging from landowners and jurors to immigrants and parish clerks. The name's evolution over time and its occasional presence in historical records provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of those who bore this distinctive surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wrath
Among Census respondents with the surname Wrath, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.0%) and Black (4.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Wrath bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Wrath surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White80.9% · 89
- Hispanic or Latino10.0% · 11
- Black or African American4.5% · 5
- Two or more races2.7% · 3
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.8% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Wrath
Wrath appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#153,769
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
+6 bearers (+6.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 3,333 places
2020
#149,446
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
+4 bearers (+3.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 4,323 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #150,436 | 100 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #153,769 | 106 | 0.04 | +6 bearers (+6.0%) | Down 3,333 places |
| 2020 | #149,446 | 110 | 0.04 | +4 bearers (+3.8%) | Up 4,323 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Wrath surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #153,769 | #149,446 | 2.8% |
| Count | 106 | 110 | 3.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -8.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Wrath bearers went from 106 to 110 (+3.8% change). The surname moved up 4,323 positions in the national ranking, going from #153,769 to #149,446.
FAQ
Wrath surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Wrath?
Name Census estimates that about 126 living Americans carry the surname Wrath. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,720,273 residents.
How common is Wrath?
Wrath ranks #149,446 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 110 people with the surname Wrath. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (126), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Wrath.
Has Wrath become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Wrath went from 106 recorded bearers to 110. That is an increase of 4 (+3.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #153,769 to #149,446.
What does the Census say about the background of Wrath?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wrath, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.0%) and Black (4.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Wrath in the 2020 Census, accounting for 80.9% (89 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Wrath appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (80.9%), Hispanic (10.0%), Black (4.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Wrath (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Wrath mean?
A transferred use of the English word meaning anger or rage. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Wrath (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Wrath?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.