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

Wenz, 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 Wenz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wenz in America

Wenz is the 16228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wenz surname appeared 1,779 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 Wenz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wenz 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 Wenz

The surname Wenz is believed to have originated in Germany, with its roots traced back to the Middle Ages. The name is thought to be derived from the German word "Wenz," which means "small" or "little." It is possible that the name was initially used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone of short stature or a child.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Wenz surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of medieval documents from the region of Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. This suggests that the name was already in use during this period in parts of Germany.

In the 15th century, a notable figure bearing the Wenz surname was Johannes Wenz, a German monk and theologian who lived from around 1390 to 1459. He is known for his contributions to theological writings and his involvement in the Catholic Church during the late medieval period.

The Wenz surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Germany. For instance, there is a town called Wenzendorf in Lower Saxony, which may have influenced the spelling or derivation of the surname in certain regions.

In the 16th century, a prominent individual named Hans Wenz (born around 1505) gained recognition as a renowned German painter and engraver during the Renaissance era. His works are still displayed in museums and art galleries across Europe.

Another notable figure with the Wenz surname was Johann Georg Wenz, a German composer and organist who lived from 1685 to 1737. He is celebrated for his contributions to sacred music and his compositions for the organ, which were widely performed in churches during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, a German chemist named Johann Friedrich Wenz (1807-1890) made significant contributions to the field of organic chemistry. He is credited with the discovery and synthesis of several chemical compounds, and his research played a crucial role in advancing the understanding of organic chemistry.

Throughout its history, the Wenz surname has maintained its presence across various regions of Germany, as well as in other parts of Europe where German immigrants settled. While the name may have evolved or been spelled differently in certain areas, its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the German people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wenz

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

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

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

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