Explore the Family Name Wander
The meaning of Wander
1. German: occupational name for a builder, one who built walls, from an agent derivative of Middle High German want ‘wall’ (from Old High German wenten ‘to wind or weave’; the earliest domestic walls were of wattle and daub construction, made from woven hurdles packed with clay). 2. German: occupational name for a maker or seller of cloth, from an agent derivative of a shortened form of Middle High German gewant ‘cloth, garment’ (from Old High German giwant, likewise a derivative of wenten ‘to weave’). 3. Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Wanderer, a nickname from Yiddish vandern ‘to wander or hike’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Wander in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname "Wander" was ranked 21,638th in popularity in the year 2000 and dropped to 25,989th by 2010, indicating a decrease of 20.11%. The count of individuals with the surname also decreased from 1,123 in 2000 to 944 in 2010, a decline of 15.94%. Consequently, the proportion of people named Wander per 100,000 decreased by 23.81% between the two census years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #21,638 | #25,989 | -20.11% |
| Count | 1,123 | 944 | -15.94% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.42 | 0.32 | -23.81% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Wander
The data from the Decennial U.S. Census also provides insight into the ethnic identity associated with the surname. In 2000, 91.18% of those with the Wander surname identified as White, decreasing slightly to 90.25% by 2010. The percentage identifying as Hispanic saw a significant increase from 3.29% in 2000 to 5.93% in 2010. There was a small presence of the surname within the Asian/Pacific Islander community, increasing from 0% in 2000 to 1.59% in 2010. However, those identifying as Black or Two or more races saw decreases in this period, with the Black representation reducing from 1.87% to 1.27%, and those identifying as Two or more races dropping from 1.87% to 0.95%. No individuals with the Wander surname identified as American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.18% | 90.25% | -1.02% |
| Hispanic | 3.29% | 5.93% | 80.24% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.59% | 0% |
| Black | 1.87% | 1.27% | -32.09% |
| Two or More Races | 1.87% | 0.95% | -49.2% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |