2000
#131,366
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 119
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Wye
An English surname derived from the name of the town of Wye in Kent.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 131 Americans carry the last name Wye. That puts it at #146,495 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,616,445 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wye 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 Wye with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
131
1 in 2,616,445
Census rank
#146,495
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
114
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 114 bearers of the surname Wye in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 146495th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wye, the largest self-reported group is White at 58.8%. The next largest groups are Black (21.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (12.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Wye
The surname Wye has its origins in England, dating back to medieval times. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English word "wīe," which means "water" or "river," indicating a geographical connection to bodies of water. This name is particularly associated with regions surrounding the River Wye, a prominent river that flows through Wales and England.
Historical references to the surname Wye can be found in various old records and manuscripts. One of the earliest mentions is in the Domesday Book of 1086, which details land holdings and settlements in England. The Domesday Book references the village of Wye in Kent, which could be a source of the surname.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Wye appeared in parish records and legal documents in the 13th and 14th centuries. For example, one Robert de Wye is mentioned in documents from 1348 in Kent, signifying early bearers of the name. This suggests that the surname was not only linked to the geographical feature but also to specific locations.
Over time, the spelling of the surname has remained relatively consistent, with minor variations such as Wy and Weye. The surname has been borne by several notable individuals throughout history. Thomas Wye, born in 1566, was an English clergyman known for his religious writings and sermons. Another important figure was John Wye, who lived during the 17th century and was known for his involvement in local governance in Kent.
In the 18th century, the Wye family name appeared in various legal and commercial records, often associated with merchants and landowners. For instance, William Wye, born in 1712, was a notable land surveyor in Gloucestershire. The name also crossed the Atlantic, with Henry Wye, born in 1778, being among the early settlers in the American colonies, contributing to the expansion and development of new territories.
The surname Wye has also been linked to place names beyond England. In Ireland, the village of Wye in County Laois is an example, reflecting the spread of the surname beyond its original location. In the 19th century, the Wye River in Maryland was named, further indicating the geographical influence of the surname.
Throughout history, the Wye surname has been associated with numerous individuals contributing to various fields. One such person is James Wye, a 19th-century figure known for his contributions to agricultural advancements in Scotland. Another is Charles Wye, a noted 19th-century industrialist in Northern England, who played a significant role in the development of the textile industry.
The surname Wye, with its deep historical roots and geographical connections, reflects a rich tapestry of English heritage. From medieval records to contributions in various fields, the bearers of the surname Wye have left a mark on history, reflecting the enduring legacy of this ancient name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wye
Among Census respondents with the surname Wye, the largest self-reported group is White at 58.8%. The next largest groups are Black (21.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (12.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Wye 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 Wye surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White58.8% · 67
- Black or African American21.1% · 24
- Asian and Pacific Islander12.3% · 14
- Two or more races5.3% · 6
- Hispanic or Latino2.6% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Wye
Wye 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
#149,395
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
-9 bearers (-7.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 18,029 places
2020
#146,495
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 114
+4 bearers (+3.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 2,900 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #131,366 | 119 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #149,395 | 110 | 0.04 | -9 bearers (-7.6%) | Down 18,029 places |
| 2020 | #146,495 | 114 | 0.04 | +4 bearers (+3.6%) | Up 2,900 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 Wye 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 | #149,395 | #146,495 | 1.9% |
| Count | 110 | 114 | 3.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -4.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Wye bearers went from 110 to 114 (+3.6% change). The surname moved up 2,900 positions in the national ranking, going from #149,395 to #146,495.
FAQ
Wye surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Wye?
Name Census estimates that about 131 living Americans carry the surname Wye. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,616,445 residents.
How common is Wye?
Wye ranks #146,495 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 114 people with the surname Wye. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (131), 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 Wye.
Has Wye become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Wye went from 110 recorded bearers to 114. That is an increase of 4 (+3.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #149,395 to #146,495.
What does the Census say about the background of Wye?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wye, the largest self-reported group is White at 58.8%. The next largest groups are Black (21.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (12.3%). 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 Wye in the 2020 Census, accounting for 58.8% (67 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Wye appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (58.8%), Black (21.1%), Asian/Pacific Islander (12.3%). 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 Wye (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 Wye mean?
An English surname derived from the name of the town of Wye in Kent. 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 Wye (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 common is the surname Wye?
Find out how common the surname Wye is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.