The Wilde surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 10,766 people carried this name — #3,332 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 27,400 people counted. That is up 5% from 10,210 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Wilde surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a nickname: ‘wild, violent, untamed’.

An early record he cites: Emma la Willde, Oxfordshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Wild, Wilde, Wyld and Wylde.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 813 · public domain.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 420 people named Wilde live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Buenos Aires Province 120
Tucumán 83
Salta 46
Mendoza 31
City of Buenos Aires 29
Jujuy 25
Río Negro 20
Santa Fe 20

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In Poland’s population register

297 people named Wilde have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 393 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 12 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Silesian.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Silesian 87
Opole 33
Greater Poland 32
Masovian 27
Łódź 25
Pomeranian 20
West Pomeranian 19
Warmian-Masurian 13

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

140 people named Wilde live in Switzerland.

They live in 13 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Basel-Stadt.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Basel-Stadt 31
Zurich 29
Vaud 15
St. Gallen 13
Zug 10
Aargau 8
Geneva 8
Basel-Landschaft 7

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 43 people named Wilde.

Most of them — 23 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 7 départements, most often Nord.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 23
Nord 10
Charente-Maritime 4
Moselle 2
Eure 1
Haute-Garonne 1
Pas-de-Calais 1
Paris 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

165 people named Wilde is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 165

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In print

Wilde in American newspapers,
1881–1895.

Newspaper page from The Portland Daily Press carrying the name Wilde
The Portland Daily Press 1881-06-09
Newspaper page from The Portland Daily Press carrying the name Wilde
The Portland Daily Press 1881-09-10
Newspaper page from Foster's Daily Democrat carrying the name Wilde
Foster's Daily Democrat 1895-03-11

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 4,756 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Wilde in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

18,183 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Wilde. The most, 2,637, date from the 1890s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Queensland, at 1.8 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 6,166
Queensland 5,612
Victoria 2,959
South Australia 1,500
Western Australia 1,150
Tasmania 490
ACT (Canberra) 259
Northern Territory 7

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Wilde.

Who carried it

People named Wilde,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Johann Wilde d. 1722 · pastor
  • Constance L. Wilde d. 1941 · botanical collector
  • Constance L. Wilde d. 1941 · botanical collector
  • Hester Amelia Wilde d. 1974
  • Johann Wilde 1438–1532 · Catholic priest
  • Stephan Wilde 1495–1550 · physician

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Wilde,
in the records of 11 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,750 records

1,750 records of the Wilde name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 759
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 323
  • Other U.S. records 668
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Luverne J. Wilde

    Born 1923 in Minnesota. Enlisted 1945 at Fort Snelling; farmer from Rice County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 2001, buried at St Lawrence Cemetery, Faribault, Minnesota.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Wilford E. Wilde

    Born 1897 in Idaho. Enlisted 1942 at Los Angeles, California; yardman. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1963, buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Ernest Wilde

    Born 1901 in Michigan. Enlisted 1942 at San Francisco, California; store manager. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1952, buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)

Showing 3 of 1,750 records for Wilde in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · Ramsey County, Minnesota (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain).

Germany1,248 records

1,248 records of the Wilde name in Germany
  • Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919 1,233
  • German emigration and citizenship files 15
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Kurt Wilde

    Born 1889; from Hohenfichte, Flöha. Reported missing in the Saxon casualty list of 17 December 1914; then reported wounded in the list of 29 December 1916 (Infantry Regiment No. 104).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Carl Wilde

    Emigrated to North America in 1847.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv (CC0)
  3. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Karl Rudolph Wilde

    Emigrated to Russia in 1873.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv (CC0)

Showing 3 of 1,248 records for Wilde in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0) · Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0); Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0).

Netherlands995 records

995 records of the Wilde name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 521
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 423
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 51
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Dina Wilde

    Married in 1898 in Hengelo; factory worker. Died 1955 in Hengelo, aged 83.

    Open Archives, Collectie Overijssel locatie Zwolle (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Carl Wilhelm Emanuel Wilde

    Married in 1851 in Amsterdam; merchant. Died 1889 in Haarlem, aged 68.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Carl Wilhelm Emanuel Wilde

    Married in 1919 in Rotterdam. Died 1968 in Renkum, aged 76.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 995 records for Wilde in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Australia491 records

491 records of the Wilde name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 257
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 106
  • Other Australian records 128
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record William Wilde

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Prince George, arriving 1837; ticket of leave 1841. Native of London.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Charlotte Wilde

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Hindostan, sailing from London in 1839. Native of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record George Wilde

    Arrived in Victoria in 1860 aboard the Queen of India, aged 45; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 491 records for Wilde in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada80 records

80 records of the Wilde name in Canada
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 26
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 24
  • Other Canadian records 30
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Jane Wilde

    Came to Ontario in 1883 aboard the Sardinian, landing at Quebec, bound for Hamilton, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Gustav Wilde

    Buried in 1984 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 81.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Ida Wilde

    Died 1981, aged 67; buried at Transcona Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.

Showing 3 of 80 records for Wilde in Canada.

Counts: City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom37 records

37 records of the Wilde name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 35
  • Welsh wills index cards 2
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Robert Wilde

    Will proved in 1933; of Old Colwyn, Denbigh.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record G. R. Wilde

    London Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 2 of 37 records for Wilde in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

France19 records

19 records of the Wilde name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Elvira Wilde

    Born 1948 in Germany; died 1995 in Germany.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Jean Jacques Pierre Wilde

    Born 1935 in Levallois-Perret (Paris); died 1981 in Melun (Seine-et-Marne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 19 records for Wilde in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

New Zealand11 records

11 records of the Wilde name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 7
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 2
  • Other New Zealand records 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Colin Charles Wilde

    Died 1997, aged 70; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Norman Leslie Wilde

    Buried in 1948 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 54.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 11 records for Wilde in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Belgium6 records

6 records of the Wilde name in Belgium Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Victoire Wilde

    Died 1881 in Kortijk.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Kortrijk (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 1 of 6 records for Wilde in Belgium.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Norway3 records

3 records of the Wilde name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Hansine Wilde

    Census of 1910: Nygaard (gaard), Lødingen; maidservant, born 1887 in Herøy, Helgeland.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Showing 1 of 3 records for Wilde in Norway.

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Ireland1 record

1 record of the Wilde name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ellen Margaret Wilde

    Died 1921; buried at St Thomas, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Wilde.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Wilde is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Wilde volume
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