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

Wahler, 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 Wahler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wahler in America

Wahler is the 29334th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wahler surname appeared 806 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 Wahler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wahler 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 Wahler

The surname Wahler originated in Germany and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "wahlen," which means "to choose" or "to elect." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who held an official position or had the right to vote in local elections.

Historically, the name Wahler was prominent in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. It appears in several medieval records, including the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of Saxon charters and documents dating back to the 9th century. The earliest recorded instance of the name is found in a deed from 1327, referring to a certain Hannus Wahler from the town of Freiberg in Saxony.

In the 15th century, a branch of the Wahler family settled in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria. Here, they were involved in the local government and held influential positions. One notable member was Hans Wahler (1450-1522), who served as a town councilor and magistrate.

During the Renaissance period, the name Wahler was associated with scholars and intellectuals. Johann Wahler (1535-1618) was a renowned philosopher and theologian who taught at the University of Wittenberg. He was a contemporary of Martin Luther and contributed to the Protestant Reformation.

In the 18th century, a family of Wahlers from Saxony gained prominence in the field of mining and metallurgy. Friedrich Wilhelm Wahler (1728-1799) was a pioneering mineralogist and geologist who made significant contributions to the study of ore deposits and mineral classification.

Another notable figure was Carl Wahler (1805-1876), a German-American inventor and industrialist. He emigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century and established a successful manufacturing business in New York City, specializing in metal casting and machinery.

Throughout history, the surname Wahler has also been associated with various place names, such as Wahlershausen in Saxony and Wahlersmühle in Bavaria, suggesting the family's ties to specific locations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wahler

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

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

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

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