Wykoff last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Wykoff

An Americanized spelling of the Dutch place name Wykhoven, derived from words meaning "hamlet by the bay".

Wykoff, 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 Wykoff surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wykoff in America

Wykoff is the 25332nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wykoff surname appeared 977 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 Wykoff.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wykoff 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 25332 23315 8.29%
Count 977 1,019 -4.21%
Proportion per 100k 0.33 0.38 -14.08%

The history of the last name Wykoff

The surname Wykoff is believed to have its origins in the Netherlands, dating back to the medieval period. The name is derived from the Dutch words "Wijck" or "Wijk," which refer to a small settlement or district. The suffix "off" could be indicative of a geographical or locational name, possibly denoting someone who lived near or in a specific settlement. Early records indicate that variants of the surname existed in regions around Utrecht and North Holland.

Historical references to the surname Wykoff or its variants can be found in Dutch records from the 16th and 17th centuries. During this period, the Netherlands experienced significant population movements, with many families adopting or modifying surnames based on their localities. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in a 1618 Utrecht parish register, where a Pieter Janszen Wycov is documented. This indicates the name's presence and usage in Dutch society during the early modern era.

A prominent figure bearing the surname is Cornelius Wykoff, who emigrated from the Netherlands to the American colonies in the mid-1600s. Born around 1620, Cornelius settled in New Amsterdam, now known as New York City, and became a well-known figure in the early Dutch-American community. His descendants played significant roles in the development of the region.

In 1776, during the American Revolution, a William Wykoff is noted for his involvement in the colonial militia. Born in New Jersey around 1750, William Wykoff served with distinction and was later recognized for his contributions to the fight for independence. His leadership and dedication exemplified the qualities associated with the Wykoff name in the new world.

Another historical figure is Samuel Wykoff, born in 1802, who was a pioneering educator in the early 19th century United States. Samuel's efforts to establish schools and promote education in rural communities underscored the family's commitment to civic engagement and betterment.

By the late 19th century, the name appeared in various records across the United States, notably with James H. Wykoff, born in 1864, who became a notable businessman in Illinois. His entrepreneurial spirit and community involvement were well-regarded, adding to the name's legacy.

A final notable person is Alice Wykoff, born in 1889, who became an early advocate for women's suffrage and social reform in the early 20th century. Her activism and leadership in various social movements highlighted the progressive spirit carried by many with the Wykoff surname.

Throughout history, the Wykoff name has been borne by individuals who contributed significantly to their communities and reflected the name's enduring legacy. The various spellings and adaptations of Wykoff through time illustrate the fluid nature of surnames and their evolution, shaped by migration, cultural changes, and societal developments.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wykoff

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

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 Wykoff was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 93.24% 911
Non-Hispanic Black Only 3.79% 37
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.82% 8
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.43% 14
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Wykoff has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 93.24% 94.70% -1.55%
Black 3.79% 3.14% 18.76%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.82% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.69% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.43% 0.79% 57.66%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Wykoff last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/wykoff-surname-popularity/.

"Wykoff last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/wykoff-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Wykoff last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/wykoff-surname-popularity/.

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