Explore the Family Name Wilmington
The meaning of Wilmington
English (Somerset and Devon): from any or all of the places called Wilmington (Devon, Kent, Shropshire, Somerset, Sussex). The Devon placename derives from the Old English personal name Wilhelm + Old English connective -ing- + tūn ‘farmstead, estate’. The Kent placename derives from the Old English personal name Wīghelm + Old English connective -ing- + tūn. The Shropshire placename derives from the Old English personal name Wilhelm or Wīghelm + Old English connective -ing- + tūn. The Somerset placename may derive from the Old English personal name Winela or Willa, or Old English willa, wiella ‘well, spring, stream’, + mǣd ‘meadow’ + dūn ‘hill’. The Sussex placename derives from the Old English personal name Wilma + Old English connective -ing- + tūn.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Wilmington in the United States?
Based on data collected from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Wilmington has seen a rise in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Wilmington was ranked as the 61,544th most popular surname, with 305 people bearing the name equating to about 0.11 per 100k individuals. By 2010, Wilmington moved up to being the 58,876th most popular surname, with 344 individuals carrying the name, representing an increase to approximately 0.12 per 100k individuals. This signified a 4.34% increase in rank and a 12.79% rise in total count, reflecting a growing popularity of the surname over this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #61,544 | #58,876 | 4.34% |
| Count | 305 | 344 | 12.79% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.11 | 0.12 | 9.09% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Wilmington
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Wilmington also shifted from 2000 to 2010 according to the Decennial U.S. Census. While the largest percentage of individuals identified as Black (44.77%) and White (48.26%) in 2010, there was a notable decrease in the number of individuals identifying as Black by -10.17%. Conversely, those identifying as White saw an increase of 9.86%. Interestingly, while the percentage of individuals who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander dropped to zero in 2010, there was a significant rise of 59.45% in the group identifying with two or more races. The percentages of those identifying as Hispanic and American Indian and Alaskan Native remained unchanged at zero.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 43.93% | 48.26% | 9.86% |
| Black | 49.84% | 44.77% | -10.17% |
| Two or More Races | 3.28% | 5.23% | 59.45% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 2.62% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |