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

Wiersema, 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 Wiersema surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wiersema in America

Wiersema is the 28263rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wiersema surname appeared 846 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 Wiersema.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wiersema 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 Wiersema

The surname Wiersema originates from the Netherlands, specifically from the northern provinces such as Friesland and Groningen. The name is most likely derived from a patronymic system or from geographical features, as was common practice in Dutch surnames. Wiersema is believed to be a compound of Vries (meaning "of Frisian origin") and ma (a Frisian suffix meaning "son of") indicating a patrilineal descent.

The etymology of Wiersema can be traced to older forms such as Wieringa and Wiersinga, surnames that appear in medieval records within Friesland. These forms show the evolution of the name from a more complex patronymic system to its more condensed modern form. Given that the Netherlands did not have a comprehensive national registry of surnames until the Napoleonic occupation in the early 19th century, older mentions of the name would likely have been found in church records and local judicial documents.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in historical records can be traced to the 16th century, where a Jan Wiersema is mentioned in Groningen. Jan Wiersema was documented in a 1580 registry of landowners, indicating the family’s involvement in agriculture or landholding at the time.

Hendrik Wiersema, born in 1610 and died in 1682, was another early notable bearer of this surname. He is known for being a merchant in Friesland, which speaks to the mobility and economic aspirations of the Wiersema family during the Dutch Golden Age.

In the 19th century, one of the most influential Wiersemas was Pieter Wiersema, born in 1823 and died in 1891. Pieter was a political figure in Groningen, taking an active role in provincial governance and local policymaking. His career reflects the growing involvement of the Wiersema family in public affairs.

The Wiersema name also appears in the 20th century, with Gerrit Wiersema, born in 1901 and deceased in 1975, who was a noted educator and author in Friesland. His contributions to the preservation of the Frisian language and culture demonstrate the sustained cultural impact of the family in their region.

Additionally, Anna Wiersema, born in 1920 and died in 1984, stands out for her work as a social worker during and after World War II. Her efforts in the reconstruction period and her advocacy for displaced families and communities added a significant social dimension to the legacy of the Wiersema name.

Overall, the surname Wiersema encapsulates a rich history tied to agriculture, commerce, governance, and social work in the northern provinces of the Netherlands, reflecting the varied roles that bearers of this name have played over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wiersema

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

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

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

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