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

Weish, 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 Weish surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Weish in America

Weish is the 72022nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Weish surname appeared 252 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Weish.

The history of the last name Weish

The surname Weish is believed to have originated in Central Europe, particularly in the regions that are now part of Germany and Austria. The name's history can be traced back to the early medieval period, roughly around the 12th or 13th century. It is likely that Weish evolved from older Germanic words or similar phonetic variants, potentially arising from occupational or locational origins.

One possible derivation of Weish is from the Old High German word "weis," which means "white" or "wise." The term might have been used to describe someone with light hair or a fair complexion, or it could have referred to someone considered wise or knowledgeable. Variants of the surname include Weisch, Weissh, and Weis. These variations were often utilized interchangeably in different manuscripts and records from the period.

Historical references to the surname Weish are relatively sparse, possibly due to the shifting political and cultural landscapes of the regions. One of the earliest mentions of a similar surname appears in a 14th-century tax register in Bavaria, where a family named Weisch was recorded as landowners. Manuscripts from monasteries and municipal records from the late medieval period also occasionally mention the name in different spellings, suggesting that bearers of the surname were spread across various territories.

The earliest confirmed individual with the surname Weish was Hans Weish, recorded as a resident of the city of Augsburg in 1372. Hans Weish's family was involved in trade, and their presence in commercial records suggests they were relatively prosperous. Another historical figure, Johannes Weish, born in 1453, was known for his role in the local governance of Nuremberg and was documented in several civic records until his death in 1511.

In 1578, a Jacob Weish was mentioned in the court records of Vienna as a master craftsman, indicating the name's presence in Austrian territories. The Weish surname appeared again in the 17th century in connection with a Gustav Weish, who was noted for his military service under the Habsburg Monarchy. He was born in 1634 and served until his death in 1702, playing a significant role in several military campaigns.

Another notable individual was Clara Weish, born in 1783, who became a well-known figure in the early 19th-century Austrian literary circles. She published several essays and poems, contributing to the cultural renaissance of the era. The name Weish has also been noted in historical records of German-speaking emigrants who settled in North America in the 18th and 19th centuries, further spreading the surname across the globe.

Throughout history, the Weish surname appears to have been associated with both common folk and notable individuals, reflecting a wide spectrum of social and economic backgrounds. The variations in spelling and the distribution of the name across different regions highlight the dynamic nature of surname development in the historical context of Central Europe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Weish

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Weish 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.

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

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

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