2010
#158,432
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.03
Very Rare Last name
Wibe
A German surname meaning "village" or "settlement".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 122 Americans carry the last name Wibe. That puts it at #152,339 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,809,462 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wibe surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
122
1 in 2,809,462
Census rank
#152,339
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
106
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 106 bearers of the surname Wibe in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 152339th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wibe, the largest self-reported group is White at 99.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Wibe
The surname Wibe has its origins rooted in Scandinavian countries, particularly Norway. It is thought to have appeared in the medieval period, around the 12th to 14th centuries. The name's early presence was predominantly in the regions surrounding the Western fjords and coastal areas. The surname likely derives from an Old Norse term, possibly 'víbær,' which can be roughly translated to mean ‘settlement’ or ‘dwelling place.’
One of the earliest references to the surname Wibe can be found in historical records dating back to the late 15th century. An old Norwegian manuscript from 1489 makes mention of a Lars Wibe, a local farmer and tradesman in the region of Vestfold. The name appears in various legal documents pertaining to land ownership and trade, indicating the family’s established presence and local influence.
In 1602, a prominent individual by the name of Svend Wibe is recorded. Svend held a position as a council leader in the town of Bergen. His contributions to local governance and his involvement in maritime trading routes were well documented in municipal records, showcasing the Wibe family's growing importance in Norwegian society.
During the 17th century, the surname saw wider dispersion due to migration, with individuals such as Erik Wibe (1645-1703), a merchant who established himself in Copenhagen. Erik's business ventures were crucial in the trade between Norway and Denmark, making his name well-known in trade circles.
By the 18th century, the Wibe surname continued to gain prominence. A notable figure during this time was Jørgen Wibe (1707-1770), who served as a clergyman. His writings and sermons, published posthumously, are still studied by historians and linguists alike, providing valuable insights into Norwegian religious practices and societal norms.
The 19th century brought forward another influential member, Hans Wibe (1810-1883). Hans was a politician and held several key administrative positions within the Norwegian government. His work in public office and his advocacy for educational reforms left a lasting legacy, etching the Wibe name into the annals of Norwegian political history.
Throughout the centuries, the surname Wibe has been associated with individuals who greatly contributed to various aspects of society, from local governance and trade to religion and politics. Each of these figures has played a role in shaping the historical narrative surrounding the name, establishing its reputation and distinguished heritage within Scandinavian history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wibe
Among Census respondents with the surname Wibe, the largest self-reported group is White at 99.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Wibe bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Wibe surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White99.1% · 105
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Wibe
Wibe appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#152,339
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
+4 bearers (+3.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 6,093 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #158,432 | 102 | 0.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #152,339 | 106 | 0.04 | +4 bearers (+3.9%) | Up 6,093 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Wibe surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #158,432 | #152,339 | 3.8% |
| Count | 102 | 106 | 3.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 18.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Wibe bearers went from 102 to 106 (+3.9% change). The surname moved up 6,093 positions in the national ranking, going from #158,432 to #152,339.
FAQ
Wibe surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Wibe?
Name Census estimates that about 122 living Americans carry the surname Wibe. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,809,462 residents.
How common is Wibe?
Wibe ranks #152,339 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 106 people with the surname Wibe. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (122), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Wibe.
Has Wibe become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Wibe went from 102 recorded bearers to 106. That is an increase of 4 (+3.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #158,432 to #152,339.
What does the Census say about the background of Wibe?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wibe, the largest self-reported group is White at 99.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Wibe in the 2020 Census, accounting for 99.1% (105 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Wibe appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (99.1%), Hispanic (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Wibe (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Wibe mean?
A German surname meaning "village" or "settlement". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Wibe (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Wibe?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many Americans have the surname Wibe at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.