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

Wierenga, 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 Wierenga surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wierenga in America

Wierenga is the 23100th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wierenga surname appeared 1,105 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 Wierenga.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wierenga 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 Wierenga

The surname Wierenga finds its origin in the Netherlands, a country known for its intricate system of naming based on geographical locations and trades. This name is particularly rooted in the northern provinces of Friesland and Groningen, where the Frisian language and culture have historically influenced local nomenclature. The surname Wierenga likely emerged during the medieval period, approximately around the 13th to 14th centuries, a time when hereditary surnames began to stabilize in Northern Europe.

The etymology of Wierenga can be traced back to the Frisian word "wier," which means "seaweed" or "marsh," combined with the suffix "enga," which denotes "descendant of" or "associated with." Thus, Wierenga essentially identified individuals who were linked to a marshy or seaweed-rich area. This might indicate that the initial bearers of the name lived in or near such regions, which were common in the low-lying areas of Friesland and Groningen.

One of the earliest references to the name can be found in the records of land transfers and property ownership in northern Netherlands. A notable historical appearance is in a 15th-century document listing landowners in Groningen, where a "Douwe Wierenga" is mentioned. This early citation provides a glimpse into the socio-economic activities of the name bearers, who were likely involved in land and agriculture.

Another significant figure is Sytze Wierenga, a noted merchant from the early 17th century who traded extensively within the Hanseatic League. Born in 1602 and passing in 1668, Sytze's commercial activities contributed significantly to the economic tapestry of Groningen, underscoring the diversification of professions among those carrying the surname.

The Wierenga name also appears in the academic sphere, with Johan Wierenga, born in 1845 and deceased in 1911, who was a renowned Professor of Classical Studies at the University of Leiden. His contributions to the study of ancient manuscripts and languages established him as a significant scholar in his field, illustrating the intellectual legacy carried by the name.

In more recent historical contexts, Marinus Wierenga, born in 1885 and died in 1944, was a prominent political figure involved in the social democrat movement in the early 20th century Netherlands. His advocacy for labor rights and social reforms positioned the Wierenga name within the political transformations of the era.

Returning to earlier periods, a further historical example includes Tjitske Wierenga, a mid-18th-century landowner known from estate records near Dokkum, Friesland. Her management of agricultural lands during a period marked by significant climate fluctuations and economic challenges highlights the resilience and adaptability commonly associated with the surname.

From these instances, the surname Wierenga emerges as a name deeply interconnected with the geographical and social fabric of northern Netherlands. Its bearers have spanned various professions, contributed to their communities, and influenced both local and broader historical narratives. This etymological and historical lens showcases the rich tapestry of stories encapsulated within the surname Wierenga.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wierenga

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

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

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

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