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

Wied, 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 Wied surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wied in America

Wied is the 37391st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wied surname appeared 596 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 Wied.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wied 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 Wied

The surname Wied originated in the western part of Germany, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period, specifically around the 12th to 13th centuries. The name is believed to have originated in the Rhineland-Palatinate region, an area rich with feudal territories and historical significance. The etymology of Wied is linked to the Old High German word "widu," meaning "forest" or "wood," indicating that the original bearers of the name were likely people who lived near or within a forested area.

Wied also appears as a toponymic surname, referring to the Wied River and the valley surrounding it. The Wied River is a tributary of the River Rhine, and this geographical feature has likely influenced the adoption of the surname. One of the earliest recorded references to the name appears in medieval charters and documents relating to the County of Wied, an historical territory in the Holy Roman Empire. The name appears spelled in various forms such as Wiedt, Wiede, and Widen, reflecting the fluid nature of medieval orthography.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the surname is Friedrich III, Count of Wied (1618-1698). He was a significant figure in the Holy Roman Empire, and his family held considerable influence within the region. Another historically important figure is Hermann Wied (1477-1552), who was the Archbishop of Cologne and a notable proponent of the Reformation, although his attempts at introducing Protestant reforms into his Catholic archbishopric were largely unsuccessful.

Further evidence of the surname's antiquity involves the Barony of Wied. Maximilian Heinrich von Wied (1681-1713) was known for his contributions to the cultural and architectural development of the region. The family's prominence continued with figures such as Prince Alexander Philipp Maximilian zu Wied-Neuwied (1782-1867), an explorer and naturalist, celebrated for his extensive travels and scientific collections in Brazil and North America. His works remain highly regarded in the field of ethnography and natural history.

Lastly, Prince Friedrich Wilhelm zu Wied (1931-2000) carried the family name into the contemporary era, maintaining the historical lineage of an aristocratic family deeply entrenched in European nobility and German history. His contributions to regional cultural and historical preservation were significant in maintaining the heritage of the name Wied.

Throughout history, the surname Wied has been carried by individuals who have made notable contributions across various fields, from politics and religion to the sciences, all rooted in the rich historical and geographical context of western Germany. The evolution of the name reflects both the linguistic and cultural shifts experienced in this region, cementing its place as an enduring and distinguished surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wied

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

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

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

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