Wiegman last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Wiegman

A German surname denoting someone who lives close to a village or crossing.

Wiegman, 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 Wiegman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wiegman in America

Wiegman is the 29366th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wiegman surname appeared 805 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 Wiegman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wiegman 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 29366 27386 6.98%
Count 805 829 -2.94%
Proportion per 100k 0.27 0.31 -13.79%

The history of the last name Wiegman

The surname Wiegman has its origins in Germany, specifically in the northern regions. The name is believed to date back to the Middle Ages, around the 14th or 15th century. It is derived from a combination of the Germanic elements "wig," meaning "battle" or "war," and "man," meaning "man." Hence, Wiegman can be interpreted as "warrior" or "battle man."

The surname Wiegman first appeared in historical records and manuscripts from areas such as Lower Saxony and Westphalia. These regions were known for their complex feudal systems and frequent conflicts, which may have influenced the prevalence of martial names. The name appears in old German records, like church registers and tax listings, from the late 1400s.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Wiegman dates back to 1483 when a Heinrich Wiegman was mentioned in a tax record in the town of Bremen. Another early reference includes a 1502 church registry from Hanover, documenting the baptism of Jürgen Wiegman. These records indicate that the name was well-established in northern Germany by the early 16th century.

There are variants and similar spellings throughout historical documents, including "Wichman" and "Wygman." These variants may appear due to regional dialects or the phonetic spelling practices of the time. The name's adaptation and persistence through history illustrate the common practice of spelling by sound.

Among the notable people bearing the Wiegman surname is Hans Wiegman, a merchant from Hamburg who lived in the late 16th century, born in 1558 and died in 1620. His trading ventures were well recorded in the merchant logs that detail the bustling trade activities of the Hanseatic League.

In the realm of art, Wilhelm Wiegman (1773-1834) was a painter known for his landscapes and portraits, contributing to the vibrant art scene of early 19th century Germany. His works are still studied for their historical and artistic value.

Another prominent figure is Karl Wiegman (1813-1882), an officer in the Prussian army who documented his experiences in a series of memoirs that provide insight into the military and social aspects of his time. His writings remain a valuable resource for historians studying the period.

In scientific circles, Ludwig Wiegman (1846-1921) was a botanist whose research on plant species around the Baltic Sea considerably expanded the botanical knowledge of the region. His published works are still referenced in botanical studies today.

The surname continues to be of interest to genealogists and historians due to its rich etymological roots and historical significance. Wiegman is a name that encapsulates a legacy of bravery, artistry, and intellectual pursuit.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wiegman

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

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 Wiegman was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 96.77% 779
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.87% 7
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.99% 8
Hispanic Origin 1.37% 11

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 96.77% 97.83% -1.09%
Black 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.87% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 0.99% 0.72% 31.58%
Hispanic 1.37% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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

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

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

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