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

Wernsman, 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 Wernsman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wernsman in America

Wernsman is the 62045th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wernsman surname appeared 323 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 Wernsman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wernsman 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 Wernsman

The surname Wernsman has its origins in Germany, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the German word "Wernse," which refers to a small body of water or a stream. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify individuals who lived near a stream or a body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wernsman can be found in the Codex Traditionum Westfalicarum, a collection of documents from the Westphalian region of Germany, which dates back to the 9th century. In this collection, the name is spelled "Wernsmannen," indicating its early roots in the region.

During the 13th century, the Wernsman family is mentioned in various records from the town of Soest, located in the present-day state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. These records include references to individuals such as Johann Wernsman, who was a prominent merchant and landowner in the town.

As the name spread across different regions of Germany, it underwent various spelling variations, including Wernsmanne, Wernsmänner, and Wernsmann. These variations reflect the influence of local dialects and the evolving nature of language over time.

One notable figure bearing the Wernsman name was Hans Wernsman (1490-1555), a German Protestant reformer and theologian. He was a follower of Martin Luther and played a significant role in the spread of the Reformation movement in the city of Lübeck.

Another prominent individual with the surname Wernsman was Johann Friedrich Wernsman (1712-1786), a German philosopher and academic. He served as a professor of philosophy at the University of Göttingen and made significant contributions to the fields of metaphysics and ethics.

In the 19th century, the Wernsman family made its mark in the world of literature. August Wernsman (1822-1892) was a German poet and novelist known for his romantic works, while his brother, Karl Wernsman (1827-1899), was a renowned literary critic and scholar.

The name Wernsman has also been associated with various geographical locations in Germany. For instance, the village of Wernsmann in the district of Lippe, North Rhine-Westphalia, is believed to have derived its name from the surname itself, indicating the presence of a Wernsman family in the area.

Overall, the surname Wernsman has a rich history rooted in medieval Germany, with its origins tied to geographic locations and the presence of waterways. Over the centuries, the name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, theologians, philosophers, and literary figures, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and intellectual landscape of Germany.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wernsman

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

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

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

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