2000
#134,929
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Wulfing
A surname derived from the Old English "wulf" meaning wolf.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 127 Americans carry the last name Wulfing. That puts it at #148,665 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,698,853 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wulfing 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.
Bearers in the US
127
1 in 2,698,853
Census rank
#148,665
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
111
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 111 bearers of the surname Wulfing in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 148665th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wulfing, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Wulfing
The surname Wulfing has its roots in Germanic traditions, originating primarily in the medieval regions that now comprise modern-day Germany. The name's etymological roots trace back to the Old High German word "wolf," which translates to "wolf" in English. Adding the suffix "-ing," a common Germanic practice denoting "belonging to," the name Wulfing essentially means "descendant of the wolf" or "belonging to the wolf," a reflection of the animal's symbolic significance in ancient Germanic culture as a symbol of strength, courage, and nobility.
The Wulfing name appears in historical texts dating as far back as the early Middle Ages. It is particularly noteworthy in the context of old Germanic tribal hierarchies and noble lineages. For instance, a tribe known as the Wulfinga is briefly mentioned in the writings of medieval chronicler Widukind of Corvey, dating to the 10th century. Widukind's chronicles, written in the 930s, describe the Wulfinga as a powerful clan located in Saxony, thereby situating the historical roots of the surname in this region.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Wulfing in historical documents dates back to the 12th century with the mention of a nobleman named Dietrich Wulfing. Dietrich was known for his participation in local governance and military campaigns. He lived in the area near present-day Hanover, and records indicate he was active around 1140 to 1170. His contributions to his community are noted in local monastery records, where he made several land donations to religious institutions.
Another historically significant figure bearing the name was Heinrich Wulfing, a noted jurist and advisor to the Holy Roman Emperor during the late 14th century. Born circa 1360 and passing in 1425, Heinrich's legal expertise and counsel were highly valued at the imperial court, marking him as a prominent intellectual of his time. His legal writings and decisions were influential in shaping the laws of the Holy Roman Empire.
In the realm of the arts, the name Wulfing also appears. Edelgard Wulfing, a famous medieval poetess, gained prominence for her lyrical compositions and courtly love poems during the late 13th century. Her poems, often reflecting the social and romantic norms of her time, are preserved in various manuscripts, providing a glimpse into the cultural milieu of medieval Germany.
From an ecclesiastical perspective, Bishop Wulfing of Passau held significant authority in the early 13th century. He was instrumental in several ecclesiastical reforms from 1215 to 1233, aligning the diocese more closely with the directives of the Fourth Lateran Council. His leadership and policies had long-standing repercussions in the region’s religious affairs.
Finally, the name Wulfing also appears in trade and commerce. Hans Wulfing was a notable merchant in the Hanseatic League during the 15th century, known for his extensive trade networks across the Baltic region. Born in 1410 and living until 1485, Hans’ economic influence and successful ventures in trade illustrate the reach and prominence of individuals carrying the Wulfing surname in historical mercantile activities.
The surname Wulfing, with its Germanic origins and historical prominence, paints a vivid picture of influence through various facets of medieval life, from nobility and legal influence to poetic contributions and commercial success.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wulfing
Among Census respondents with the surname Wulfing, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Wulfing 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 Wulfing surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.8% · 103
- Hispanic or Latino7.2% · 8
Timeline
Historical Census data for Wulfing
Wulfing 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
#133,048
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 127
+12 bearers (+10.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 1,881 places
2020
#148,665
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
-16 bearers (-12.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 15,617 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #134,929 | 115 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #133,048 | 127 | 0.04 | +12 bearers (+10.4%) | Up 1,881 places |
| 2020 | #148,665 | 111 | 0.04 | -16 bearers (-12.6%) | Down 15,617 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 Wulfing 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 | #133,048 | #148,665 | -11.7% |
| Count | 127 | 111 | -12.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -7.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Wulfing bearers went from 127 to 111 (-12.6% change). The surname moved down 15,617 positions in the national ranking, going from #133,048 to #148,665.
FAQ
Wulfing surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Wulfing?
Name Census estimates that about 127 living Americans carry the surname Wulfing. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,698,853 residents.
How common is Wulfing?
Wulfing ranks #148,665 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 111 people with the surname Wulfing. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (127), 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 Wulfing.
Has Wulfing become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Wulfing went from 127 recorded bearers to 111. That is a decrease of 16 (-12.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #133,048 to #148,665.
What does the Census say about the background of Wulfing?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wulfing, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.2%). 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 Wulfing in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.8% (103 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Wulfing appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.8%), Hispanic (7.2%). 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 Wulfing (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 Wulfing mean?
A surname derived from the Old English "wulf" meaning wolf. 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 Wulfing (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 share the surname Wulfing?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.