Wawro last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Wawro

Of Polish origin, possibly denoting someone from the town of Wawro.

Wawro, 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 Wawro surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wawro in America

Wawro is the 65964th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wawro surname appeared 300 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 Wawro.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wawro 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 65964 61376 7.21%
Count 300 306 -1.98%
Proportion per 100k 0.10 0.11 -9.52%

The history of the last name Wawro

The surname WAWRO is of Polish origin, with its roots tracing back to the late Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in the region of Wielkopolska, situated in what is now west-central Poland. The name itself is thought to derive from the Polish word "wawrzyn," meaning "laurel," which was a symbol of victory and honor in ancient times.

One of the earliest known references to the WAWRO name can be found in the Księga Henrykowska, a medieval manuscript dating back to the 13th century. This historical document mentions a certain "Wawrzyniec Wawro," who was a landowner in the village of Henryków, located in the present-day Lower Silesian Voivodeship of Poland.

In the 15th century, records indicate the presence of a family known as WAWRO in the city of Poznań, which was a major center of trade and culture during the Polish Renaissance. It is likely that this family played a significant role in the economic and social life of the city at that time.

One notable figure with the WAWRO surname was Jan Wawro (1587-1648), a Polish nobleman and military commander who fought in the Polish-Swedish Wars of the 17th century. He was known for his bravery and strategic skill on the battlefield, earning him the respect of his contemporaries.

Another prominent individual was Franciszek Wawro (1764-1836), a Polish painter and professor at the University of Vilnius. He was renowned for his portrait paintings and his contributions to the development of the arts in the region.

In the 19th century, Józef Wawro (1828-1901) was a Polish writer and journalist who played an active role in the Polish independence movement. His works were widely read and influential in shaping public opinion during the turbulent period of Polish history.

Towards the end of the 19th century, the WAWRO surname also found its way to the United States, as many Polish immigrants sought new opportunities and a better life in the rapidly industrializing nation. One such individual was Stanisław Wawro (1868-1943), who settled in Chicago and became a successful businessman and community leader.

Throughout its history, the WAWRO surname has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, including the military, arts, literature, and entrepreneurship. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Poland, the name has since spread to other parts of the world, carrying with it a rich legacy and a connection to the Polish cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wawro

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

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 Wawro was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 95.67% 287
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 2.33% 7

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 Wawro has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 95.67% 97.71% -2.11%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 2.33% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Wawro last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 19, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/wawro-surname-popularity/.

"Wawro last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/wawro-surname-popularity/. Accessed 19 August, 2025

Wawro last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/wawro-surname-popularity/.

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