Explore the Family Name Wolfenden
The meaning of Wolfenden
English (Lancashire and Yorkshire): habitational name from Wolfenden, a place in the parish of Newchurch-in-Rossendale (Lancashire). The placename probably means ‘valley at a place called Wolfham’, deriving from Middle English den(e) ‘valley’ (Old English denu) qualified by an earlier placename, Wolfham, composed of Old English wulf ‘wolf’ + hamm ‘enclosure, hemmed-in land’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Wolfenden in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname "Wolfenden" was ranked 37,374 in terms of popularity in the year 2000 and slightly dropped to a rank of 37,735 by 2010. This represents a marginal decline of 0.97%. However, the actual count of individuals with this surname rose from 561 to 589, an increase of 4.99% over the period. The proportion of the population with this surname per 100,000 people dipped slightly from 0.21 to 0.2, marking a decrease of 4.76%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #37,374 | #37,735 | -0.97% |
| Count | 561 | 589 | 4.99% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.21 | 0.2 | -4.76% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Wolfenden
Regarding the ethnic identity associated with the surname "Wolfenden", again based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the majority of individuals carrying this name identified as White, with 96.97% in 2000 dropping slightly to 95.59% in 2010. There were no recorded instances of this surname among those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year. The percentage of those identifying as Hispanic rose from 0.89% in 2000 to 1.19% in 2010, showing a significant increase of 33.71%. Interestingly, by 2010, there were also some Wolfendens who identified as belonging to two or more races.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.97% | 95.59% | -1.42% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 2.04% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0.89% | 1.19% | 33.71% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |