Waggner
An occupational surname for one who made or drove wagons.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Waggner. That puts it at #88,020 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Waggner surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#88,020
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
211
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 211 bearers of the surname Waggner in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 88020th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Waggner, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.7%. The next largest groups are Black (18.0%) and Two or More Races (2.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Waggner
The surname WAGGNER originated in Germany and can be traced back to the early medieval period. It derived from the Old High German word "wagno," which referred to a maker or builder of wagons, carts, or other wheeled vehicles. This occupational name would have initially referred to someone who worked as a wagon maker or wheelwright.
Early variations of the spelling included Wagener, Waganer, and Wagnere. The surname likely emerged in the 12th or 13th century as occupational surnames became more common across Europe. While the name does not appear in the Domesday Book, which focused on England, it may be found in other early German records and manuscripts from that era.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the WAGGNER surname dates back to 1285, when a Hermannus Wagener was mentioned in official records from the city of Cologne. Another early example is Johannes Wagener, who lived in Heidelberg in the late 14th century and was listed in city records from 1385.
In the 15th century, a notable individual with this surname was Hans Waggner, a master wagon builder from Nuremberg who was renowned for his craftsmanship. He lived from around 1420 to 1489 and his workshop produced high-quality wagons and carts for the wealthy merchants and nobility of the region.
During the 16th century, the WAGGNER name appeared in various parts of Germany, including the regions of Bavaria, Saxony, and Brandenburg. One prominent figure was Georg Waggner, a Protestant reformer and theologian from Wittenberg who lived from 1501 to 1577. He was a close associate of Martin Luther and played a significant role in the early years of the Protestant Reformation.
Another individual of note was Matthias Waggner, a German architect and builder who was active in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was responsible for the construction of several important buildings in the city of Dresden, including the famous Zwinger Palace, which he began work on in 1711 and continued until his death in 1719 at the age of 68.
In the 18th century, Johann Michael Waggner, born in 1707 in Nuremberg, was a renowned clockmaker and inventor. He is credited with developing one of the earliest self-winding clock mechanisms, which revolutionized the design and functionality of clocks at the time.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Waggner
Among Census respondents with the surname Waggner, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.7%. The next largest groups are Black (18.0%) and Two or More Races (2.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Waggner bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Waggner surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White77.7%
- Black or African American18.0%
- Two or more races2.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Waggner surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #88,020 | #88,020 | 0.0% |
| Count | 211 | 211 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Waggner bearers went from 211 to 211 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #88,020 to #88,020.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Waggner
FAQ
Waggner surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Waggner?
The surname Waggner holds position #88,020 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Waggner surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Waggner, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.7%. The next largest groups are Black (18.0%) and Two or More Races (2.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.