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

Whetzel, 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 Whetzel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whetzel in America

Whetzel is the 12264th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whetzel surname appeared 2,536 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 Whetzel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whetzel 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 Whetzel

The surname Whetzel is of German origin, and it is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria during the 16th century. The name is derived from the German word "Wetzel," which means a knifegrinder or a sharpener of blades. It is possible that the earliest bearers of this surname were involved in the trade of sharpening knives and other blades.

The earliest recorded instance of the Whetzel surname can be found in the church records of the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria, dating back to the late 1500s. In these records, the name appears as "Wetzell" and "Wetzler," which were likely variations of the modern spelling.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, as the Whetzel family spread across various parts of Germany, the name took on several different spellings, such as "Wetzel," "Wetzell," and "Wetzler." These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of local scribes.

One notable individual with the Whetzel surname was Johann Georg Whetzel (1648-1720), a German theologian and author who served as a pastor in the town of Großostheim in Bavaria. His writings on religious matters and Biblical commentaries were widely read during his time.

Another prominent figure was Karl Whetzel (1790-1867), a German artist and painter who was renowned for his landscape paintings depicting the picturesque countryside of Bavaria. His works were displayed in several art galleries across Europe and are still admired by art enthusiasts today.

In the 19th century, many individuals bearing the Whetzel surname immigrated to the United States, particularly to the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. One such immigrant was Wilhelm Whetzel (1815-1895), who settled in Pennsylvania and worked as a farmer. His descendants continued to carry on the family name in the United States.

The Whetzel surname also has its roots in Switzerland, where it is believed to have originated from the German-speaking regions of the country. One notable Swiss individual with this surname was Hans Whetzel (1562-1624), a prominent watchmaker and inventor who is credited with developing the first portable timepiece, known as the "Nuremberg Egg."

Throughout history, the Whetzel surname has been associated with various professions, ranging from artisans and craftsmen to scholars and artists. Despite its varied spellings and geographical distribution, the name has maintained its connection to its German origins and the trade of sharpening blades.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whetzel

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

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

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

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