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

Wyn, 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 Wyn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wyn in America

Wyn is the 113155th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wyn surname appeared 155 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 Wyn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wyn 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 Wyn

The surname Wyn can trace its origin back to Wales, a country steeped in rich cultural and linguistic history. Emerging during the medieval period, the name is believed to derive from the Welsh word "gwyn," which means "white" or "fair." Given the phonetic nuances of the Welsh language, it is not uncommon to find variations in the spelling of the name throughout history.

The earliest instances of the surname Wyn can be traced to the regions of Gwynedd and Powys in North and Mid Wales, respectively. These areas were strongholds of the Welsh language and culture during medieval times. Early records make mention of similar spellings, such as Gwyn, Wynn, and Weyn. Though the name primarily appears in local records, its simplicity and phonetic similarity to the elemental Welsh word gwyn allowed for widespread use.

A prominent historical reference to the surname Wyn appears in the Welsh medieval manuscripts known as the "Chronicles of the Princes" or "Brut y Tywysogion," which detail events from the 11th to the 13th century. During this period, individuals with the surname Wyn might have appeared in various administrative and clerical capacities.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Wyn is Dafydd Wyn, a poet and bard active in the 14th century. His lyrical compositions are preserved in some of the oldest Welsh poetry collections, showcasing the cultural contributions of the Wyn family to Welsh heritage. Llewelyn Wyn, born in 1450, was another notable figure who played a significant role as a chieftain in the region of Gwynedd, participating in several important events of his time.

By the 16th century, the surname Wyn had spread to different parts of Wales and even crossed over into England due to political and economic migrations. One example is Elinor Wyn, who was born in 1543 in Pembrokeshire, Wales, and became well-known in her community for her charitable activities and patronage of the arts.

In more recent history, Sir Hugh Wyn, born in 1725, served as a high-ranking official in the Welsh judiciary and was instrumental in legal reforms during the early 18th century. Another significant figure was John Wyn, a Welsh-American immigrant born in 1802, who contributed significantly to the cultural and political life of the Welsh community in the United States during the 19th century.

The surname Wyn has indeed left an indelible mark on the historical and cultural fabric of Wales and beyond. Its journey from medieval Welsh roots to present-day recognition is a testament to the enduring legacy of families who bore this modest yet historically significant name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wyn

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

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

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

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