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

Wider, 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 Wider surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wider in America

Wider is the 45569th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wider surname appeared 469 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 Wider.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wider 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 Wider

The surname Wider is believed to have its origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe. The earliest emergence of the name can be traced back to the medieval period, particularly around the 12th or 13th centuries. It is most commonly associated with areas that are now part of modern-day Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The name Wider is thought to derive from the Middle High German word "wider," meaning "against" or "contrary," possibly signifying a person who was a contrarian or someone who held opposing views.

Historical references to the surname can be found in various records and manuscripts from the medieval period. One significant reference is found in the city records of Augsburg, Germany, from the late 13th century, where a Heinrich Wider is mentioned as a landowner and merchant. Another early example appears in the tax rolls of Baden-Württemberg in 1324, listing a family of Widers who were prominent farmers.

The earliest recorded examples of the surname are found in ecclesiastical documents and town registries. In 1316, a document from the monastery of St. Gall in Switzerland mentions a Jacobus Wider, who was a benefactor to the monastery. Another example is found in the mid-14th century records of Vienna, where a Friedrich Wider is listed as a master craftsman in the guild of stonemasons.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Wider have made notable contributions to their communities and fields of expertise. One such individual is Martin Wider, born in 1592 in Bavaria and known for his work as a clockmaker. His intricate designs and mechanisms were acclaimed, and his clocks were sought after by nobles and churches alike. Another notable figure is Anna Wider, a midwife from Zurich, who in the early 17th century became well-regarded for her medical knowledge and compassionate care during childbirth.

In the realm of academia, Johannes Wider, born in 1785, made significant contributions to the field of philosophy. He authored several works on existentialism and metaphysics that were influential during his time. Another renowned individual is Peter Wider, born in 1851, who was an influential figure in the early development of Alpine mountaineering. His extensive exploration of the Alps led to the first mapped routes that mountaineers still use today.

Later in the 19th century, Elisabeth Wider, born in 1873, became a pioneering figure in women's education in Austria. She established several schools aimed at providing higher education for women, significantly impacting the educational opportunities available to women during that era. In more recent history, Günther Wider, an engineer born in 1927, is known for his work on early computer technologies in Germany and contributed to the development of some of the first computational devices used in scientific research.

The surname Wider, with its roots deeply embedded in the German-speaking regions of Europe and its association with various significant historical figures, provides a fascinating glimpse into the diverse contributions of those who bore the name across centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wider

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

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

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

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