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

Whetsell, 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 Whetsell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whetsell in America

Whetsell is the 25849th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whetsell surname appeared 952 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 Whetsell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whetsell 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 Whetsell

The surname Whetsell originates from Germany, and its history can be traced back to the medieval period, specifically around the 12th to 13th centuries. The name is believed to have derived from the Germanic words "wetzel" meaning "sharp" or "keen," which could indicate an occupational name related to someone who worked as a sharpener or a maker of tools. The root words also suggest an association with the qualities of sharpness or wit.

Whetsell appears in historical records in various regions of Germany, particularly in the areas surrounding modern-day Bavaria and Saxony. The spelling of the surname has seen several variations over the centuries, such as Wetzell, Wetzel, and Whetzel. The lack of standardization in spelling during the medieval and early modern periods often led to these variations.

The name can be found in documents including tax records, land transactions, and church registers from as early as the 14th century. One of the earliest recorded instances is a 1323 land deed mentioning a Johann Wetzel of Bavaria, showing the name's use in a formal context. Later records in the 15th and 16th centuries show the spread of the surname to other parts of Germany, including records of the Reformation period which may list church members or local leaders by this name.

Throughout history, several prominent individuals bore the surname Whetsell. Johann Whetzel, born in 1485 and died in 1548, is noted for his involvement in the early Reformation movements in Saxony. Another notable figure is Hans Wetzel, born in 1567 and passing in 1632, who was an important craftsman and documented in city guild records in Nuremberg.

In the 18th century, some bearers of the Whetsell name emigrated to America, particularly during the German Palatine immigration waves. Wilhelm Whetsell, born in 1721, migrated to North America and settled in Pennsylvania, contributing to the spread of the surname outside Europe. Another emigrant, Friedrich Whetsell, born in 1735, moved to South Carolina and became well-known in local agricultural circles.

Throughout the 19th century, the name continued to spread across the United States, with several individuals gaining recognition in local histories. Heinrich Whetsell, born in 1803 and died in 1874, became a notable figure in Ohio's burgeoning communities, particularly noted for his philanthropic efforts and support of local institutions such as schools and hospitals.

The surname Whetsell, having adapted and evolved over centuries, preserves a rich tapestry of history, illustrating the movement and influence of families bearing this name from their German origins to broader horizons.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whetsell

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

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

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

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