Find out how popular the last name Urwiler is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Urwiler.

Urwiler, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Urwiler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Urwiler in America

Urwiler is the 127494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Urwiler surname appeared 134 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Urwiler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Urwiler to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Urwiler

The surname Urwiler has its origins in Switzerland, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Swiss-German word "Ur," meaning primeval or ancient, and "Wil," signifying a village or settlement. This suggests that the name may have originated from an ancient or early settlement in Switzerland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Urwiler can be found in the Swiss village of Rüti, located in the canton of Zürich. Historical records from the 1500s mention families with this surname residing in this area. It is possible that the name was initially associated with a specific location or village within the region.

During the 17th century, the name Urwiler appeared in various Swiss documents and records, indicating its presence in different parts of the country. Some notable individuals bearing this surname include Johann Urwiler (1590-1648), a respected farmer and landowner from the town of Embrach, and Hans Urwiler (1612-1684), a merchant and trader from the city of Basel.

In the 18th century, the Urwiler surname gained prominence in the Swiss watch-making industry. Peter Urwiler (1726-1789), a skilled watchmaker from Geneva, was renowned for his intricate timepieces, which were highly sought after by the European aristocracy. His son, Jakob Urwiler (1758-1825), continued the family tradition and established a successful watch-making business in the city of Neuchâtel.

As the 19th century dawned, the Urwiler name spread beyond Switzerland's borders. One notable figure was Friedrich Urwiler (1814-1887), a German-born explorer and naturalist who traveled extensively through South America, documenting its flora and fauna. His journal entries and sketches from his expeditions are preserved in various museums and archives.

Another prominent individual was Marie Urwiler (1842-1918), a Swiss-born teacher and women's rights advocate who dedicated her life to promoting education and equal opportunities for women. She founded several schools and campaigned tirelessly for social reforms in Switzerland and neighboring countries.

While the surname Urwiler may not be as common today as it once was, its historical roots can be traced back to the picturesque villages and settlements of Switzerland, where it first emerged as a reflection of the country's rich cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Urwiler

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Urwiler.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Urwiler was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Urwiler has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Urwiler was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Urwiler, please contact us.

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