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

Wierda, 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 Wierda surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wierda in America

Wierda is the 63873rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wierda surname appeared 312 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 Wierda.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wierda 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 Wierda

The surname Wierda has its roots in the Netherlands, originating primarily in the northern province of Friesland. This region has a rich history of unique surnames, often tied to geographic or personal characteristics. The surname Wierda is believed to have first appeared in the late Middle Ages, around the 14th or 15th century.

Wierda is derived from the Frisian word "wier" meaning "a raised bed of land" or "a terp," which were artificial living mounds created to provide safe ground during floods. The suffix "da" is often used in Frisian surnames and implies "from" or "descendant of." Thus, Wierda likely began as a locative surname, identifying a family from or associated with a particular terp or raised piece of land.

One of the earliest documented appearances of the name Wierda can be found in municipal records from the late 15th century, where a certain Jehannes Wierda is mentioned as a landowner in Friesland around 1490. These early records highlight the name's association with property and specific locations, reflecting the geographic nature of the surname.

The historical records of the 16th and 17th centuries reference several members of the Wierda family, primarily in Friesland. An important figure from this period is Tjeerd Wierda, born around 1550, who is noted in legal documents concerning land disputes. These references point to the family’s ongoing presence in the region and their involvement in local affairs.

Famous individuals with the surname Wierda include Anno Sjoerd Wierda (1829–1915), an influential engineer and architect in South Africa, originally from Friesland. Another notable person is Geert Wierda, a 19th-century Dutch politician who played a significant role in the liberal movement in Friesland.

In the 20th century, Hilbrand Wierda (1905–1983), a renowned civil engineer, also brought prestige to the surname. He was instrumental in many infrastructure projects across the Netherlands, particularly in water management and flood prevention, which appropriately links back to the etymology of the name.

Johannes Wierda, born in 1880 and a prominent linguist and historian specializing in Frisian literature, exemplifies the scholarly achievements associated with the name. His contributions to preserving the Frisian language and cultural heritage have been widely recognized and celebrated within academic circles.

The Wierda surname also appears in various place names and historical documents throughout Friesland, further cementing its regional importance. Towns like Wier and Wierum hint at the surname's origin, suggesting a deep connection between the inhabitants and their landscape.

In conclusion, the surname Wierda boasts a rich history rooted in the geographic and cultural landscape of Friesland, with significant contributions in various fields from engineering to politics and academia. The name has endured through centuries, maintaining its association with the unique and storied land from which it originated.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wierda

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

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

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

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