Explore the Family Name Wither
The meaning of Wither
Scottish (Wigtownshire) and English: 1. from the Middle English personal name Wither or its Old Norse cognate Vitharr, Withar. 2. nickname from Middle English wither(e), wethir (Old English wither) ‘ferocious, savage; argumentative’. 3. perhaps a topographic name for someone who lived by a willow tree, from an agent derivative of Middle English withi ‘willow’ (Old English wīthig). Compare Withey.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Wither in the United States?
The popularity of the surname "Wither" has seen a decline since the 2000s, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, it was ranked 89,172 and by 2010, it had dropped to 113,155, indicating a decrease of 26.9%. The count of individuals with this surname has also decreased from 193 in 2000 to 155 in 2010, a reduction of 19.69%. Consequently, the proportion per 100,000 people has dropped from 0.07 in 2000 to 0.05 in 2010, marking a decrease of 28.57%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #89,172 | #113,155 | -26.9% |
| Count | 193 | 155 | -19.69% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.07 | 0.05 | -28.57% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Wither
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that the majority of those bearing the "Wither" surname identify as White. This ethnic group accounted for 74.09% of the "Withers" in 2000, but saw a slight decrease to 71.61% in 2010. Hispanics, who represented 10.36% of the "Withers" in 2000, increased their share to 14.19% in 2010 - a substantial rise of 36.97%. The percentage of those identifying as Black dropped slightly, from 13.99% in 2000 to 13.55% in 2010. Notably, there were no individuals who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, or American Indian and Alaskan Native, or as belonging to two or more races during both census years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 74.09% | 71.61% | -3.35% |
| Hispanic | 10.36% | 14.19% | 36.97% |
| Black | 13.99% | 13.55% | -3.15% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |