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

Wettlaufer, 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 Wettlaufer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wettlaufer in America

Wettlaufer is the 46811th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wettlaufer surname appeared 454 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 Wettlaufer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wettlaufer 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 Wettlaufer

The surname Wettlaufer originates from the German language and can be traced back to the regions of Germany and Switzerland. It is believed to have derived from the words "Wett," meaning "bet" or "wager," and "Laufer," meaning "runner" or "messenger." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who were involved in delivering messages or carrying out tasks related to betting or wagering activities.

The earliest known records of the Wettlaufer surname date back to the 16th century. One notable reference is found in the Zurich census records of 1535, where the name "Wettlaufer" is mentioned. Additionally, the name appears in various German church records from the 16th and 17th centuries, primarily in the regions of Saxony and Bavaria.

In the 17th century, a notable individual named Hans Wettlaufer was recorded as a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Nuremberg. He was born in 1612 and played a significant role in the local economy and trade during his lifetime.

Another historical figure bearing the Wettlaufer name was Johann Wettlaufer, a renowned clockmaker from the town of Augsburg, Germany. He lived between 1682 and 1749 and was renowned for his intricate and precise timepieces, many of which are still preserved in museums and private collections.

In the 19th century, the Wettlaufer surname gained prominence in the field of academia. Friedrich Wettlaufer (1801-1868) was a respected German philosopher and professor at the University of Heidelberg, known for his contributions to the study of ethics and moral philosophy.

Towards the end of the 19th century, the name Wettlaufer also appeared in Switzerland. One notable figure was Jakob Wettlaufer (1865-1932), a Swiss architect who designed several notable buildings in the city of Zurich, including the famous Kunsthaus Zürich art museum.

It is worth noting that variations in the spelling of the surname, such as "Wetlaufer" and "Wettlauer," have also been recorded throughout history, reflecting regional linguistic differences and variations in record-keeping practices.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wettlaufer

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

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

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

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