Explore the Family Name Wafer
The meaning of Wafer
English: 1. occupational name from Middle English, Anglo-Norman French wafrer ‘waferer’, i.e. a maker or seller of wafers or thin cakes. Wafrer was shortened to Wafre or Wafer to avoid the awkward repetition of the -r-. Waferers sold sweet spiced cakes, but they were also concerned with the provision of wafers for the eucharist. This surname is also found in Ireland, particularly in County Wexford. 2. from the Old French personal name Waifar, Waifer, Old French Gaifier, of ancient Germanic origin. Some characteristic forenames: French Camille, Collette, Gregoire.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Wafer in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Wafer was ranked 18,781st in popularity in 2000 and slightly decreased to 19,266th in 2010, marking a -2.58% change. The number of individuals with the surname Wafer rose from 1,349 in 2000 to 1,407 in 2010, indicating a 4.3% increase. However, considering the proportion per 100k people, it went down by 4.0% from 0.5 to 0.48 over the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #18,781 | #19,266 | -2.58% |
| Count | 1,349 | 1,407 | 4.3% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.5 | 0.48 | -4% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Wafer
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census reveals that the majority of individuals with the Wafer surname identified as Black, making up 62.86% in 2000 and slightly decreasing to 62.19% in 2010. The percentage identifying as White declined from 32.99% to 31.63%, while those identifying as Hispanic increased from 2.45% to 2.56%. The representation of Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnicities among Wafers both slightly decreased. Notably, there was a substantial increase in the number of Wafers identifying with two or more races, skyrocketing from 0.89% in 2000 to 2.84% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 62.86% | 62.19% | -1.07% |
| White | 32.99% | 31.63% | -4.12% |
| Two or More Races | 0.89% | 2.84% | 219.1% |
| Hispanic | 2.45% | 2.56% | 4.49% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.44% | 0.43% | -2.27% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.37% | 0.36% | -2.7% |