Explore the Family Name Wolfgang
The meaning of Wolfgang
German: from the ancient Germanic personal name Wolfgang, composed of the elements wolf ‘wolf’ + ganc ‘gait, pace’, ‘way of life’. From the late 10th century it became popular in Bavaria and the south as the name of a Christian saint, Bishop Wolfgang of Regensburg.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Wolfgang in the United States?
According to the data derived from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Wolfgang" has experienced a slight decline over a decade. In 2000, Wolfgang was ranked as the 10,672nd most popular surname. By 2010, it had dropped to the 11,225th position, marking a decrease of 5.18%. However, the actual count of individuals with the Wolfgang surname increased by 2.4% from 2,751 in 2000 to 2,817 in 2010. The proportion per 100,000 people also fell slightly from 1.02 in 2000 to 0.95 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,672 | #11,225 | -5.18% |
| Count | 2,751 | 2,817 | 2.4% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.02 | 0.95 | -6.86% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Wolfgang
Regarding the ethnicity associated with the surname Wolfgang, there have been some changes between 2000 and 2010, based on the Decennial U.S. Census data. While the majority of individuals with this surname identified as White (95.85%), this marked a 1.25% decrease from the previous decade. There were notable increases within other ethnic identities. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander saw an increase of 53.62%, while those associating with two or more races increased by 44.90%. The Hispanic population with the Wolfgang surname rose by 30.26%, and the Black population grew by 56.00%. Lastly, the American Indian and Alaskan Native group experienced a 12.00% increase.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.06% | 95.85% | -1.25% |
| Two or More Races | 0.98% | 1.42% | 44.9% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.69% | 1.06% | 53.62% |
| Hispanic | 0.76% | 0.99% | 30.26% |
| Black | 0.25% | 0.39% | 56% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.25% | 0.28% | 12% |