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

Wanker, 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 Wanker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wanker in America

Wanker is the 91625th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wanker surname appeared 201 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 Wanker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wanker 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 Wanker

The surname Wanker has its origins in the Germanic region of medieval Europe, specifically in the area that is now modern-day Germany. It is believed to have derived from an occupational surname, referring to an individual who engaged in a particular trade or profession.

One theory suggests that the name Wanker is derived from the Middle High German word "wanken," which means "to totter" or "to sway." This could potentially indicate that the name was initially associated with individuals who worked in occupations that involved swaying or rocking motions, such as weavers or fullers in the textile industry.

Another possible origin of the name Wanker is that it may have been a derogatory nickname given to individuals who exhibited certain behaviors or characteristics perceived as undesirable or contemptible. However, it is important to note that the precise etymology of the name remains uncertain, and various theories exist regarding its derivation.

In terms of historical references, the name Wanker appears to have been relatively uncommon in early written records and manuscripts. However, there are a few notable mentions of individuals bearing this surname in various historical documents.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wanker can be found in the Chronicon Hirsaugiense, a chronicle written by the monks of the Hirsau Abbey in the late 12th century. The chronicle mentions a certain "Henricus Wanker" who was involved in a dispute over land ownership in the year 1187.

Another early reference to the name Wanker comes from the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of medieval documents relating to the Margraviate of Brandenburg. In this collection, there is a record from 1294 that mentions a "Johannes Wanker" as a witness to a land transaction.

In the 15th century, there are records of a family named Wanker residing in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, in what is now Bavaria, Germany. One notable member of this family was Hans Wanker (c. 1430-1495), who served as a member of the town council and was involved in various civic affairs.

Moving forward in time, the name Wanker appears to have spread to other regions of Europe, albeit in limited numbers. In the 17th century, there are records of a family named Wanker in the Netherlands, with a notable member being Pieter Wanker (1621-1687), a merchant and landowner in the city of Amsterdam.

Another noteworthy individual with the surname Wanker was Johann Heinrich Wanker (1737-1819), a German composer and organist who lived and worked in the city of Dresden during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

It is important to note that while the surname Wanker has a long history and can be traced back to medieval times, it has never been a particularly common or widespread name. Nevertheless, it remains an intriguing part of the diverse tapestry of European surnames and their origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wanker

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

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

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

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