Weller
One who makes, repairs, or sells wells, springs, or watercourses, or one who lives near a well.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 16,007 Americans carry the last name Weller. That puts it at #2,615 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 4.67 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 21,413 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Weller surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
16K
1 in 21,413
Census rank
#2,615
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
4.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
14K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 13,774 bearers of the surname Weller in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 4.67 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2615th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Weller, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Weller
The surname Weller originated in Germany and is derived from the Middle High German word "wellær," which means "weller" or "fuller." This occupation referred to someone who treated and thickened cloth, particularly wool, by beating and pressing it. The surname first appeared in records in the late 12th century, and early examples of the name were found in various German states and principalities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Weller surname can be found in the Bürgerbucher (Citizen Books) of the city of Nuremberg, which mention a Chunrat der Weller in 1348. Additionally, the surname appears in the tax rolls of the town of Rottenburg am Neckar in 1441, where a Hanns Weller is listed.
The Weller name was also present in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, which includes references to individuals with the surname in the 14th and 15th centuries. For instance, a Nicol Weller is mentioned in a document from 1389 concerning a property dispute in the town of Zwickau.
In England, the surname Weller is thought to have been introduced by German immigrants in the 16th and 17th centuries. One of the earliest recorded examples is Thomas Weller, who was born in Wantage, Berkshire, in 1566. Another notable bearer of the name was John Weller (1712-1789), an English portraitist and painter who worked in London.
The Weller surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history, including:
1. Friedrich Ludwig Weller (1799-1892), a German pastor and theologian.
2. Jacobus Weller (1601-1668), a Dutch Golden Age painter and engraver.
3. Samuel Weller (1776-1854), an English cricketer who played for Surrey and Hampshire.
4. Thomas Weller (1915-2008), an American virologist known for isolating and growing the polio virus in a laboratory setting.
5. Millicent Weller (1907-1993), an American actress who appeared in several films and television shows in the mid-20th century.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Weller
Among Census respondents with the surname Weller, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Weller bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Weller surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.0%
- Hispanic or Latino2.0%
- Two or more races1.7%
- Black or African American1.2%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Weller surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,615 | #2,615 | 0.0% |
| Count | 13,774 | 13,774 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 4.67 | 4.67 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Weller bearers went from 13,774 to 13,774 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #2,615 to #2,615.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Weller
FAQ
Weller surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Weller?
The surname Weller holds position #2,615 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 16,007 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 4.67 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Weller surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Weller, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.