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

Wickesberg, 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 Wickesberg surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wickesberg in America

Wickesberg is the 135593rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wickesberg surname appeared 124 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 Wickesberg.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wickesberg 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 Wickesberg

The surname Wickesberg is of German origin, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the areas surrounding the regions of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. The name is a compound of two elements: "Wickes" and "berg." The element "Wickes" is likely derived from the Old High German "wick," meaning a place or settlement. "Berg" translates from German as "mountain" or "hill," suggesting that the earliest bearers of the name may have lived near or on a prominent hill or in a settlement by a hill.

Historical references to the surname Wickesberg can be found in records dating back to the 13th century. One of the earliest mentions is in a charter from 1273, where a Heinrich von Wickesberg is recorded as a witness to a land grant in the region of Westphalia. This document suggests that the Wickesberg family were already established landowners or held some position of local influence at this time.

Throughout the 14th and 15th centuries, the Wickesberg name appears sporadically in various regional records and documents. For instance, a Johannes Wickesberg is documented as a participant in the Hanseatic League activities around the port town of Bremen in 1387. This involvement with the League suggests that members of the Wickesberg family were engaged in trade and commerce, which was integral to the prosperity of the region during the medieval period.

In the 16th century, an important figure bearing the name is Wilhelm Wickesberg, born in 1542. He is noted for his contributions to the early Reformation movement in Northern Germany. Wilhelm was a close associate of reformers like Martin Luther and played a pivotal role in spreading Lutheran teachings in rural communities of Saxony before his death in 1599.

Another significant individual is Katharina Wickesberg, born in 1621, who was a well-known herbalist and healer in her time. She gained recognition for her knowledge of medicinal plants and her ability to treat various ailments, which was recorded in regional herbal compendiums of the 17th century. Her work greatly influenced local medical practices until her passing in 1683.

Moving into the late 18th century, Friedrich Wilhelm Wickesberg, born in 1764, made notable contributions to mechanical engineering. He is best known for his advancements in the design of windmills, which were crucial for agricultural and industrial processes at the time. Friedrich's designs were applied across several European countries, significantly improving the efficiency of grain milling and water management before his death in 1825.

The surname Wickesberg also appears in the early 19th century with Franz Wickesberg, an established novelist born in 1798. His works primarily focused on the lives of common folk and rural communities, offering a glimpse into the socio-economic conditions of his time. Franz’s literary contributions were widely read across Germany, and he continued to write until his death in 1856.

By tracing the etymology and historical references, the surname Wickesberg can be seen as deeply rooted in German history, associated with various professions and social roles across the centuries. The name’s evolution from medieval landowning records to contributions in fields like commerce, religion, herbal medicine, engineering, and literature demonstrates the diverse legacy of the Wickesberg family.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wickesberg

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

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

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

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