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

Wences, 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 Wences surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wences in America

Wences is the 33695th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wences surname appeared 676 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 Wences.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wences 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 Wences

The surname Wences is believed to have originated from the Czech Republic, where it was derived from the Slavic personal name Václav, meaning "greater glory" or "more glorious." This name was particularly popular in the Middle Ages and can be traced back to the 10th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wences can be found in the Codex Gigas, also known as the Devil's Bible, a massive 13th-century manuscript created by Benedictine monks in Bohemia. The name appears in a list of individuals who contributed to the manuscript's creation.

In the 14th century, the surname Wences began to appear in various records and documents throughout Bohemia and neighboring regions. One notable individual bearing this name was Jan Wences (c. 1350-1415), a Czech priest and theologian who played a significant role in the Hussite Reformation movement.

During the Renaissance period, the Wences family gained prominence in the city of Prague. Jakub Wences (1475-1539) was a renowned architect and sculptor, responsible for the design and construction of several churches and public buildings in the city.

In the 17th century, the Wences surname spread beyond the Czech lands as members of the family migrated to other parts of Europe. Petr Wences (1615-1684), a Bohemian soldier, served in the armies of various European rulers during the Thirty Years' War.

Another notable figure with the surname Wences was Karolina Wences (1785-1855), a Polish writer and translator who was instrumental in promoting Romantic literature in her native country. Her works played a crucial role in shaping the cultural landscape of 19th-century Poland.

As the centuries passed, the Wences surname continued to be found in various parts of Europe, with individuals bearing this name making contributions in diverse fields such as art, literature, science, and politics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wences

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

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

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

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