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

Wey, 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 Wey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wey in America

Wey is the 26261st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wey surname appeared 930 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 Wey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wey 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 Wey

The surname Wey has its origins in Europe, particularly from the regions now known as Germany and Switzerland. The name dates back to the early medieval period, appearing in various forms in old Germanic and Swiss texts. In these regions, the name is believed to have arisen from the German word "Weg," meaning "path" or "way," indicating that the original bearers of the name might have lived near or worked on important roads or pathways.

Early references to the surname include its appearance in medieval manuscripts and local records. For example, a person named Henrich de Wey is documented in records from Switzerland in the 13th century. Historical documents from the region often showcased different spellings of the surname such as Weye and Wei, reflecting the phonetic interpretations of the time.

One of the earliest clearly recorded instances of the surname Wey can be traced to the 1220s, when a document mentions a Rudolf Wey living in Zurich. This name appears again in various charitable donations and land grants, indicating a family of some status. These early records provide significant insights into the persistence of the surname in the region over centuries.

The name also appears in German historical texts, with Hugo Wey being notable in the 14th century. Hugo, born in 1305 and died in 1369, was a merchant whose records were preserved in the official documents of the town of Oldenburg, where he frequently transported goods along major paths—likely contributing to the association with the term "Weg."

During the Renaissance period, the surname Wey continued to appear across German territories. A prominent figure was Johann Wey, an artist born in 1575 who died in 1634. Johann's works were documented in art catalogs and registries in Augsburg, highlighting that the surname was linked not just to trade or land but also to cultural contributions.

Another renowned individual with this surname was Friedrich Wey, born in 1782 and had passed in 1845. Friedrich was a notable figure in the field of education, having brought progressive teaching methods to schools in the Baden region. His contributions were recorded in numerous academic journals and correspondences from the early 19th century.

In Burgdorf, a commune in Switzerland, Kaspar Wey, born in 1820 and died in 1895, earned recognition for his role as a local official and historian. His writings and records about the town's development and events have been preserved in Swiss archives, lending further prominence to the surname in historical documents.

Thus, the surname Wey has a rich history marked by varied roles such as trade, arts, education, and local governance throughout its existence in Central Europe. This lineage underscores the diverse contributions and geographical origins that have shaped the surname’s historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wey

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

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

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

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