Wiesendanger last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Wiesendanger

A locational German surname referring to someone living or originating from a meadow or field.

Wiesendanger, 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 Wiesendanger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wiesendanger in America

Wiesendanger is the 117480th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wiesendanger surname appeared 148 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 Wiesendanger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wiesendanger 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 117480 109915 6.65%
Count 148 149 -0.67%
Proportion per 100k 0.05 0.06 -18.18%

The history of the last name Wiesendanger

The surname Wiesendanger finds its origins in Switzerland, emerging primarily from the German-speaking regions. It can be traced back to the Middle Ages, with earliest documented instances appearing around the 13th century. The name is thought to derive from the Old High German words "wiese," meaning meadow, and "danger" or "tan," suggesting guardian or protector. This indicates that the name likely referred to someone who was a protector or caretaker of the meadows, an important agricultural role during that era.

The surname has been recorded in various historical documents over the centuries. One of the earliest mentions appeared in a municipal record from Zurich in the late 1200s. These records highlight the surname's prevalence in the area, often associated with landowning and civic duties. The name also appears in ecclesiastical documents, such as baptismal and marriage registers, indicating its deep roots in local communities.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the surname Wiesendanger was Hans Wiesendanger, born circa 1320, who was a noted landowner in the Zurich Canton. His family was involved in local governance and trade, playing a significant role in the economic life of the region. Another historical figure is Heinrich Wiesendanger, a 15th-century priest born in 1456, who contributed to religious and educational developments in his region.

By the 16th century, the name had appeared in various forms and spellings due to regional dialects. In some records, it was spelled Wiesendanger or Wiesendanger, reflecting the local linguistic influences. A notable bearer from this period was Margaretha Wiesendanger, who lived during the early 1600s and was known for her charitable work and contributions to the local church in Zurich.

In the 18th century, the surname became associated with a number of influential figures in Swiss society. One such individual was Johann Jakob Wiesendanger, born in 1712, who was a renowned engineer and helped design several crucial infrastructure projects in the Zurich region. His work significantly impacted the development of Swiss engineering practices at the time.

Another prominent person was Friedrich Wiesendanger, born in 1834, a distinguished academic and writer who contributed numerous works on Swiss history and society. His scholarly contributions helped preserve crucial aspects of Swiss cultural heritage, making him a celebrated figure in historical circles.

Throughout history, the surname Wiesendanger has been borne by individuals who played vital roles in their communities, contributing to various fields such as governance, religion, engineering, and academia. Each individual left a lasting legacy, cementing the name's historical significance. As we trace the legacy of Wiesendanger, it becomes clear that its bearers have contributed considerably to Swiss culture and history over many centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wiesendanger

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

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 Wiesendanger was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 98.65% 146
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 98.65% 96.64% 2.06%
Black 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic (S)% 0.00% (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 Wiesendanger was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Wiesendanger last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 7, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/wiesendanger-surname-popularity/.

"Wiesendanger last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/wiesendanger-surname-popularity/. Accessed 7 July, 2025

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

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