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

Wetherbee, 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 Wetherbee surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wetherbee in America

Wetherbee is the 15328th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wetherbee surname appeared 1,913 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 Wetherbee.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wetherbee 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 Wetherbee

The surname Wetherbee has its origins in England, tracing back to the late 12th century. It is derived from a place name, likely referring to a town or village where the earliest bearers of the name resided. The name is believed to be a combination of the Old English words "wether," meaning a male sheep, and "by," meaning a town or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk, dated 1195, where it is spelled "Wedrebey." This document provides evidence of the name's existence during the late 12th century in the county of Norfolk, England.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various forms, such as "Wetherby" and "Wethirbi," suggesting variations in spelling and pronunciation. These variations may have arisen due to regional dialects or scribal errors in record-keeping.

The Wetherbee surname is also found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record from 1273, where it is spelled "Wederby." This document serves as further confirmation of the name's presence in medieval England.

One notable individual bearing the Wetherbee surname was Sir John Wetherbee (c. 1450-1515), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Warwickshire, England. He served as a knight and held several influential positions during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII.

Another historical figure was Richard Wetherbee (c. 1530-1598), a clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Burbage in Leicestershire. He wrote several theological works and was known for his teachings and sermons.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various records, including the parish registers of Gloucestershire, where a William Wetherbee was recorded in 1642.

During the colonial era, some individuals bearing the Wetherbee surname migrated to the American colonies. One such individual was John Wetherbee (c. 1620-1690), who settled in Marlborough, Massachusetts, in the 1660s and was among the early settlers of the town.

Another notable figure was Ebenezer Wetherbee (1706-1781), a farmer and soldier from Leominster, Massachusetts, who fought in the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War.

Throughout history, the Wetherbee surname has been associated with various professions, including landowners, clergymen, farmers, and soldiers, reflecting the diverse experiences of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wetherbee

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

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

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

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