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

Wirges, 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 Wirges surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wirges in America

Wirges is the 82908th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wirges surname appeared 227 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 Wirges.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wirges 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 Wirges

The surname Wirges originates from Germany and can be traced back to the regions around the Rhineland-Palatinate area. Specifically, the town of Wirges lies in the Westerwaldkreis district, and the name likely emanates from this geographical location. The name Wirges may be derived from the Old High German word "wirkan," meaning "to work," or from "wier," which can imply a dam or dike, combined with "ges," suggesting settlement. This points to an occupational or locational origin, highlighting a person who worked on a dam or resided near such a structure.

Earliest instances of the surname Wirges are sparsely recorded, primarily due to the lack of extensive documentation in medieval times. However, in the 13th and 14th centuries, variations of the name can be found in tax records and other local documents in the Rhineland-Palatinate region. The surname is often associated with rural communities and agricultural vocations, reflecting the socio-economic backdrop of the era.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the surname Wirges was Heinrich von Wirges, a minor noble mentioned in a 1357 document relating to land transactions in the Westerwald region. Another significant figure was Johan Wirges, born around 1430, who was a local magistrate in the town of Wirges in the late 15th century. Records from the town’s administrative archives refer to his involvement in local governance and community affairs.

During the Thirty Years' War, Hans Wirges, born in 1605, was a notable artisan blacksmith. His skills were in high demand for forging weapons and tools essential for the war effort. Hans's contributions were documented in military and municipal records of the early 17th century, marking an era where the War significantly influenced livelihoods and social standings.

In the 18th century, Mathias Wirges, born in 1720, emerged as a prominent figure when he participated in local resistance against feudal oppression. Historical letters and records from local archives mention Mathias's leadership roles in petitions and communal meetings advocating for peasant rights, reflecting the broader socio-political movements of the time.

The 19th century saw Wilhelm Wirges, born in 1804, making considerable strides in education and culture within the Wirges community. A schoolmaster by profession, Wilhelm contributed to the local education reform, elevating literacy and intellectual standards. His name appears in several educational reform documents and local council minutes from the mid-19th century.

Each of these individuals illustrates the historical richness and socio-economic journey of the surname Wirges across centuries, from medieval governance to wartime contribution, communal activism, and educational reform in Germany’s Rhineland-Palatinate region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wirges

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

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

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

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