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

Whisler, 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 Whisler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whisler in America

Whisler is the 10377th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whisler surname appeared 3,105 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 Whisler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whisler 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 Whisler

The surname Whisler originated in Germany, with records showing its presence as early as the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "wispel," which referred to a unit of measurement for dry goods. This suggests that the name may have originated from an occupation or trade involving the measurement or handling of grains or other dry goods.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the 15th-century manuscript "Codex Diplomaticus Anhaltinus," which mentions a certain "Hans Wispeler" from the town of Zerbst in Saxony-Anhalt. This document, dated 1437, provides evidence of the name's usage during that period and its association with the region.

In the 16th century, the name appears to have spread to other parts of Germany, with records showing variations such as "Wispeler," "Wispel," and "Whispler." One notable individual from this era was Johann Whispler (1508-1573), a German Protestant reformer and theologian from Saxony.

As the name traveled across Europe, it underwent further modifications, eventually evolving into the spelling "Whisler." In the 17th century, a family bearing this surname can be traced to the town of Rheinfelden in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. One member of this family, Hans Whisler (1620-1689), is recorded as a respected landowner and farmer in the region.

During the 18th century, the name Whisler started to appear in various parts of Europe, including Switzerland and France. In Switzerland, records show a Johann Whisler (1732-1804) who was a prominent clockmaker and watchmaker in the city of Geneva.

As migration patterns shifted, the name eventually made its way to other parts of the world, including North America. One of the earliest known Whislers in America was Jacob Whisler (1745-1822), a German immigrant who settled in Pennsylvania in the late 18th century.

Another notable individual with this surname was Frederick Whisler (1818-1892), a Union Army officer during the American Civil War, who was born in Pennsylvania and later served as a colonel in the 82nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment.

Throughout history, the surname Whisler has been associated with various professions, including farming, craftsmen, and military service. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Germany, the name has spread across continents, adapting to different cultures and languages along the way.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whisler

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

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

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

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