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

Was, 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 Was surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Was in America

Was is the 57639th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Was surname appeared 353 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 Was.

We can also compare 2010 data for Was 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 Was

The surname "Was" is believed to have originated in Germany, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old High German word "wahs," meaning "growth" or "increase." This name may have been initially given to families living in an area known for its fertile land or thriving crops.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Was" can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of historical documents from the 8th to the 13th century. In this collection, there is a reference to a person named "Wasso" in the year 1090, which is likely an early variation of the surname.

During the 13th century, the name "Was" appeared in various medieval records, including the Urkundenbuch der Stadt Basel, a compilation of records from the city of Basel, Switzerland. This suggests that the name may have been present in this region during that time period.

In the 15th century, a notable figure with the surname "Was" was Johannes Was, a German theologian and philosopher born in 1420. He was known for his contributions to the development of scholastic philosophy and his works on metaphysics.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Wilhelm Was, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1548 to 1621. He was renowned for his religious artworks and his contributions to the development of the Northern Renaissance art style.

In the 18th century, the surname "Was" appeared in the records of the town of Wittenberg, Germany, where a family of that name resided. This included Johann Christoph Was, a Lutheran minister born in 1712, who served as a pastor in the local church.

Moving into the 19th century, a notable figure with the surname "Was" was Karl Was, a German politician and lawyer born in 1824. He played an active role in the German Revolutions of 1848-1849 and advocated for democratic reforms in his country.

Throughout history, the surname "Was" has been found in various regions of Germany, as well as in neighboring countries like Switzerland and Austria, where it likely spread due to migration and cultural exchange. While its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, the name has persisted and evolved over the centuries, becoming a part of the rich tapestry of German heritage and genealogy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Was

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

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

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

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