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Wilder Family History

Wilder Surname Meaning

German, Danish, and Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Wild.

English (South eastern England, especially Berkshire): probably a nickname from Old English wildēor ‘wild animal’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Wilder family from?

You can see how Wilder families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wilder family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wilder families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 241 Wilder families living in London. This was about 31% of all the recorded Wilder's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Wilder families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wilder surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Wilder ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Wilder. 21% of Wilder men worked as a General Labourer and 72% of Wilder women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wilder were Railway Clerk and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Wilder | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    21%
  • Nurseryman Greenhouse Production
    9%
  • Builders Labourer
    9%
  • Railway Clerk
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Dressmaker
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

What Wilder family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 146,000 census records available for the last name Wilder. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wilder census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wilder

Passenger Lists

There are 12,000 immigration records available for the last name Wilder. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Wilder immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 34,000 military records available for the last name Wilder. For the veterans among your Wilder ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wilder military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wilder family history

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What is the average Wilder lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Wilder life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Wilder in 1943 was 37, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wilder

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wilder ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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