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

Waxman, 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 Waxman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Waxman in America

Waxman is the 14382nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Waxman surname appeared 2,078 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Waxman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Waxman 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 Waxman

The surname Waxman originated in Germany, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 16th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "wachs," which means wax, and the suffix "-man," indicating a person who worked with wax or was involved in the wax trade. The name was likely occupational in origin, referring to individuals who produced or sold wax products, such as candles or sealing wax.

In the early days, the name was primarily concentrated in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony, where the wax industry was prevalent. Historical records show variations in spelling, including Wachsmann, Wachsman, and Waxmann, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal practices of the time.

One of the earliest notable references to the name can be found in the records of the city of Nuremberg, where a certain Hans Waxman is mentioned as a candle maker in 1587. Another early record dates back to 1612, when a Johann Waxman is listed as a resident of Leipzig, a prominent trade center for wax and other goods.

As the name spread across Europe, it took on different forms and spellings. In England, for instance, the name appeared as Waxman and Waxeman, with one of the earliest recorded instances being that of Richard Waxman, born in 1632 in Oxfordshire.

Several individuals with the surname Waxman have achieved notable status throughout history. One prominent figure was Jacob Waxman (1794-1868), a German-born rabbi and scholar who served as the chief rabbi of Altona, now part of Hamburg, Germany. Another was Samuel Waxman (1828-1890), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Waxman Cigar Company in New York City.

In the realm of literature, Meyer Waxman (1892-1983) was a prominent Yiddish writer and journalist who published numerous works, including the novel "Der Yeliner Komediant" (The Comedian of Yeline). The artist Jonathan Waxman (1865-1942), born in Russia, gained recognition for his paintings and illustrations in the early 20th century.

More recently, Henry Waxman (born 1939) served as a influential member of the United States House of Representatives for California's 33rd congressional district from 1975 to 2015, championing various health and environmental causes during his tenure.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Waxman

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

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

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

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