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

Wicht, 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 Wicht surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wicht in America

Wicht is the 68547th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wicht surname appeared 287 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 Wicht.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wicht 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 Wicht

The surname Wicht is of German origin, dating back to the medieval period. Predominantly found in the regions of Northern Germany, particularly in Lower Saxony, the name is believed to have agricultural or topographical origins.

The etymological roots of the name can be traced to the Old High German word "wiht," which means "creature" or "thing." Comparisons to older spellings, such as "Wichto" or "Wict," demonstrate the evolution of the name over centuries. The term has connotations of substantiality and importance, indicating possibly a person of reckoning in their community.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Wicht appears in a 13th-century manuscript from the Hanseatic League cities, which shows a certain Heinrich Wicht as a local merchant. The records suggest that the name was relatively common among those involved in trade and commerce during this period, highlighting its integration into the mercantile community.

By the 15th century, the surname Wicht was established in the northern German regions. A notable individual was Jakob Wicht, born in 1421 and recorded as a master blacksmith in Hamburg. His contributions to the local guilds were significant enough to be documented in the city's archives.

In the 17th century, a certain Anna Wicht emerged in historical texts as a pivotal figure in Bremen’s small textile industry. Born in 1633, she managed to build a modest yet influential weaving workshop, leaving a notable mark on the local economy until her death in 1698.

Another distinguished bearer of the surname was Karl Friedrich Wicht, an academic born in 1789 in Hanover. A professor of botany, Karl was instrumental in the early 19th century botanical studies in Northern Germany. His research and publications had a lasting impact on the field, and he continued his work until his death in 1854.

In the late 19th century, Hermann Wicht was a prominent civil engineer contributing to the expansion of urban infrastructure in Berlin. Born in 1857, his projects included the modernization of the city's sewer systems and roadways, marking his name in the annals of engineering until he passed away in 1924.

The surname Wicht, with its Germanic origins and historical significance, showcases a lineage of individuals contributing to their respective fields, reflecting the broad yet meaningful application of the name through history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wicht

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

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

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

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