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

Wachs, 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 Wachs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wachs in America

Wachs is the 22573rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wachs surname appeared 1,138 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 Wachs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wachs 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 Wachs

The surname Wachs is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "wahs" meaning "wax" or "candle wax." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have been involved in the production or trade of wax candles.

The name Wachs first emerged in the region of Bavaria, which was a major center of candle-making in medieval times. Some of the earliest known records of the name can be found in the town of Nuremberg, where a Cunrad Wachs was mentioned in the city's tax records in 1347.

As the surname spread beyond Bavaria, it also took on various spelling variations, such as Wachs, Wahx, Wax, and Wachs. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and scribal errors in transcribing the name.

One notable early bearer of the Wachs name was Johann Wachs, a printer and publisher from Nuremberg who lived in the late 15th century. He was among the first to take advantage of the new printing press technology, and his publications played a role in the spread of knowledge during the Renaissance.

Another individual of historical significance was Hans Wachs, a German painter and engraver who lived in the 16th century. His works, which often depicted religious scenes and portraits, can be found in several museums across Europe.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Wachs family settled in the town of Weilheim, where they became prominent citizens. One member, Georg Wachs (1615-1683), served as the town's mayor and was known for his efforts in promoting local industries and improving the town's infrastructure.

Moving into the 18th century, the Wachs name gained recognition in the field of medicine. Johann Georg Wachs (1717-1788) was a German physician and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life and their medicinal properties.

As the name spread across Europe and eventually to other parts of the world, it continued to be associated with various occupations and industries. In the 19th century, for example, there was a successful family of Wachs brewers in the city of Bamberg, Germany.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wachs

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

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 Wachs 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 Wachs 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 Wachs was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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