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

Weniger, 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 Weniger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Weniger in America

Weniger is the 48530th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Weniger surname appeared 435 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 Weniger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Weniger 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 Weniger

The surname Weniger originates from Germany, with its roots traced back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the German word "wenig," meaning "little" or "few," suggesting that the original bearers of this surname may have been individuals of small stature or modest means.

In the early records, the name appeared with various spellings, such as Wenigher, Wenicher, and Weniger, reflecting the regional variations and the evolution of language over time. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the "Bürgerbuch der Stadt Nürnberg," a citizen registry from the city of Nuremberg, dated around the 15th century.

During the 16th century, the Weniger family gained prominence in the region of Saxony, where they were involved in various trades and professions. Notably, Johann Weniger (1521-1589), a Lutheran theologian and reformer, played a significant role in shaping the religious landscape of the era.

As the name spread across German-speaking regions, it became associated with various places and localities. For instance, the town of Wenigenlupnitz in Thuringia was once known as Wenigenlupnitz, reflecting the presence of the Weniger family in the area.

In the 18th century, the name Weniger gained recognition through the works of renowned German philosopher and mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716), who frequently referenced a mathematician named Johann Weniger in his writings.

Another notable figure bearing the Weniger surname was Friedrich Weniger (1814-1896), a German politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Reichstag, the national parliament of the German Empire.

As the 19th century dawned, the Weniger family continued to make their mark in various fields. Carl Weniger (1824-1898), a German educator and pedagogue, contributed significantly to the development of educational theory and practice in Germany.

In the 20th century, the name Weniger resonated in the world of arts and literature. Ernst Weniger (1908-1987), a German philosopher and educator, made notable contributions to the field of philosophy of education and influenced generations of scholars.

Throughout its history, the surname Weniger has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, reflecting the rich tapestry of German culture and society. While the name may have originated from humble beginnings, it has since been associated with achievement, scholarship, and a spirit of intellectual curiosity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Weniger

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

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

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

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