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

Wessels, 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 Wessels surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wessels in America

Wessels is the 8641st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wessels surname appeared 3,805 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 Wessels.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wessels 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 Wessels

The surname WESSELS is of German origin, derived from the Low German word "wessel," meaning a small stream or brook. This name first emerged in the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century, in the regions of northern Germany and the Netherlands.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name can be found in the town of Wesseln, near Hamburg, Germany, where it was likely used as a topographic surname to identify individuals living near a small stream or brook. The name may have also been associated with occupations related to water, such as millers or fishermen.

In the 14th century, the name WESSELS appeared in various records and manuscripts, including the Bürgermeisterbuch (Mayor's Book) of the city of Lübeck, where a certain Johannes Wessels was mentioned as a prominent citizen.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name spread throughout northern Europe, particularly in the Netherlands and parts of modern-day Belgium. One notable figure was Gomer Wessels (1569-1630), a Dutch theologian and author who wrote extensively on religious subjects.

In the 18th century, the name WESSELS became more widespread in Germany, with several individuals bearing the name achieving recognition. Johann Philipp Wessels (1712-1789) was a German theologian and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of ethics.

Another notable figure was Johann Friedrich Wessels (1794-1853), a German painter and etcher known for his landscape and architectural works. His etchings of various German cities and landscapes are highly regarded and can be found in numerous art collections.

In the 19th century, the name WESSELS continued to be prominent in Germany and the Netherlands. One notable individual was Abraham Wessels (1830-1891), a Dutch politician and lawyer who served as the Minister of Justice in the Netherlands from 1877 to 1879.

Throughout history, the surname WESSELS has been associated with various professions, including academics, artists, politicians, and religious figures. Despite its German origins, the name has spread across Europe and beyond, reflecting the movement and migration of people over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wessels

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

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

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

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