Wieck last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Wieck

A low German topographic surname referring to a meadow or grazing field.

Wieck, 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 Wieck surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wieck in America

Wieck is the 25136th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wieck surname appeared 987 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 Wieck.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wieck 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 25136 24243 3.62%
Count 987 969 1.84%
Proportion per 100k 0.33 0.36 -8.70%

The history of the last name Wieck

The surname Wieck has its roots in Germany, with its origins likely tracing back to the medieval period. It is primarily found in northern Germany, particularly in the region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, as well as in Pomerania and Brandenburg. The name is derived from the Low German word "wiek," which can mean "bay" or "district," indicating that the bearers of this surname possibly lived near a bay or within a specific district.

Historically, the surname Wieck appears in various old records, such as those preserved in city archives and church registries of northern Germany. For example, an early reference to the surname can be found in the 13th-century records of the Hanseatic League, a powerful alliance of Germanic cities and towns that dominated trade in the Baltic Sea. These records indicate the name's association with coastal and trade-related activities.

One of the earliest known individuals carrying the surname was Johann Wieck, a merchant from Lübeck, born around 1280. His name appears in maritime trade documents from the early 14th century, showing that the family had established a foothold in commerce. In subsequent centuries, the surname can be traced through various municipal documents and ecclesiastical records, often in contexts relating to trade, governance, and land ownership.

The surname Wieck is also associated with notable historical figures. Friedrich Wieck (1785-1873) was a distinguished German pedagogue, pianist, and vocal teacher, best known as the father and teacher of renowned pianist Clara Schumann. His contributions to music education in the 19th century have left a lasting legacy. Another notable individual is Hans-Joachim von Rohr-Wieck, a military officer who served in the Prussian army during the Napoleonic Wars, born in 1790.

In addition to individuals, the place name Wieck appears in several locations across Germany. For instance, Wieck an der Darß is a picturesque village in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, which could have lent its name to inhabitants who later migrated to other regions. Old spellings of this place name, including Wike or Wieke, are documented in medieval cartographic records and charters.

Another figure of historical significance is Heinrich Wieck, a theologian born in 1801, who contributed to religious literature and education. He was a key figure in the Lutheran church and authored several works on ecclesiastical history. His correspondence with other theologians of his time reveals the intellectual background and scholarly activities associated with the surname.

Finally, the painter Carl Theodor von Wieck (1824-1900) gained fame for his landscape paintings, primarily depicting the northern German countryside. His works displayed at various European art exhibitions brought recognition to the family's name in the realm of fine arts.

The surname Wieck, with its ancient roots, maritime connections, and notable bearers, reflects the rich tapestry of German history and culture. This intricate etymology and the historical presence of individuals with this surname in various fields underscore its diverse contributions to society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wieck

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

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 Wieck was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 95.74% 945
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.91% 9
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.91% 9
Hispanic Origin 1.72% 17

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 Wieck has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 95.74% 97.21% -1.52%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% 0.52% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.91% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 0.91% 0.52% 54.55%
Hispanic 1.72% 1.44% 17.72%

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

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

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"Wieck last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/wieck-surname-popularity/.

"Wieck last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/wieck-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Wieck last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/wieck-surname-popularity/.

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