Explore the Family Name Wile
The meaning of Wile
1. English: either a topographic or occupational name for someone who lived by or who was in charge of some kind of mechanical contrivance (a windlass, perhaps, or an animal snare) or possibly a fish trap, or a habitational name for someone who came from a place called with the same word (Middle English wile), such as Wyld Farm, in Hampstead Norris (Berks), Monkton Wild (formerly in Wootton Fitzpaine, Dorset), or Wyle Cop in Shrewsbury (Shropshire). 2. English: perhaps from Middle English wild ‘wild’ (see Wild). 3. Americanized form of German Weil.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Wile in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Wile saw a slight decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname ranked 15,854 in popularity, but by 2010, it had fallen to 17,080 - a decline of approximately 7.73%. Furthermore, the count of individuals with this surname also decreased from 1,685 in 2000 to 1,662 in 2010, a reduction of 1.36%. The proportion of people named Wile per 100,000 population also declined, dropping from 0.62 to 0.56, a decrease of 9.68%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #15,854 | #17,080 | -7.73% |
| Count | 1,685 | 1,662 | -1.36% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.62 | 0.56 | -9.68% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Wile
The ethnic identity associated with the Wile surname has also shown some shifts between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. The most significant change was seen in the Hispanic group, which increased from 0.89% to 2.35%, an increase of 164.04%. However, the percentage of individuals identifying as Black decreased from 1.84% to 1.20%, a drop of 34.78%. A small increase was observed in those reporting two or more races, moving up from 1.19% to 1.26%. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native were not reported in the 2010 census, after being reported at 0.53% and 0.30% respectively in 2000. The overwhelming majority identified as White, although this percentage slightly decreased from 95.25% to 94.89%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.25% | 94.89% | -0.38% |
| Hispanic | 0.89% | 2.35% | 164.04% |
| Two or More Races | 1.19% | 1.26% | 5.88% |
| Black | 1.84% | 1.2% | -34.78% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.53% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.3% | 0% | 0% |