Explore the Family Name Weld
The meaning of Weld
1. English: topographic name from Middle English wo(u)ld(e), wald(e), weld(e) ‘wooded region, forested land, upland’ (see Wald, Wold). 2. English (Dutch origin): in Eastern England, this name was perhaps a habitational name from Weld (Brabant), now Well in Limburg province (Netherlands). History: Thomas Weld (1596–1661), born in Sudbury, Suffolk, England, was an influential Puritan divine who emigrated from Terling, Essex, to Roxbury, MA, in 1632.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Weld in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Weld has seen a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked at 19,208 but dropped to a rank of 21,459 in 2010, marking an 11.72% decrease. The number of individuals carrying the Weld surname also decreased from 1,307 to 1,218, a reduction of 6.81%. Similarly, the proportion of this surname per 100,000 people fell by 14.58%, from 0.48 to 0.41.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #19,208 | #21,459 | -11.72% |
| Count | 1,307 | 1,218 | -6.81% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.48 | 0.41 | -14.58% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Weld
The ethnicity associated with the Weld surname, according to the Decennial U.S. Census, showed some changes between 2000 and 2010 as well. While the majority of those with the Weld surname identify as White (92.45% in 2010 down from 94.80% in 2000), there has been a notable increase in individuals who identify as Hispanic, rising from 2.30% in 2000 to 3.53% in 2010. There was also a modest increase in those identifying as Black or belonging to two or more races. In 2010, the census began recording data for those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native within the Weld surname, reporting figures of 0.41% and 0.82%, respectively.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.8% | 92.45% | -2.48% |
| Hispanic | 2.3% | 3.53% | 53.48% |
| Two or More Races | 1.15% | 1.4% | 21.74% |
| Black | 1.07% | 1.4% | 30.84% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.82% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.41% | 0% |