Explore the Family Name Wakeham
The meaning of Wakeham
English: 1. habitational name, primarily from Wakeham in Devon, named from the Old English byname Waca (meaning ‘watchful’) + Old English hām ‘village, homestead’ or hamm ‘water meadow’. 2. habitational name from Wakeham in Terwick (Sussex), which has the same etymology as the placename in 1 above. Some characteristic forenames: German Helmut.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Wakeham in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Wakeham has seen a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Wakeham was ranked 50,572nd in terms of popularity among all surnames in the United States, but by 2010, it had dropped to 52,482nd, reflecting a decrease of 3.78%. However, the actual count of people with this surname slightly increased from 388 in 2000 to 395 in 2010, which is an increase of 1.8%. The proportion of individuals bearing the Wakeham surname per 100,000 people decreased by 7.14%, from 0.14 in 2000 to 0.13 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #50,572 | #52,482 | -3.78% |
| Count | 388 | 395 | 1.8% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.14 | 0.13 | -7.14% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Wakeham
Regarding ethnic identity, again based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the majority of individuals with the Wakeham surname identified as White in both 2000 and 2010, although there was a decrease of 2.30% in this group over the decade. In 2000, 96.91% identified as White compared to 94.68% in 2010. The census data for 2010 shows some diversity emerging within the Wakeham surname bearers, with 2.28% identifying as Hispanic and 1.27% identifying as Black, groups not present in the 2000 data. There were no individuals who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.91% | 94.68% | -2.3% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 2.28% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 1.27% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |