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

Wirick, 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 Wirick surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wirick in America

Wirick is the 19671st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wirick surname appeared 1,370 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 Wirick.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wirick 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 Wirick

The surname Wirick is of Germanic origin, likely emerging during the Middle Ages. The name is believed to have originated from the regions that are now modern-day Germany, particularly the areas affiliated with Franconia. It is derived from the old Germanic personal name Wigerich, composed of the elements "wig" meaning battle and "ric" meaning ruler. This construction signifies a name that translates to "battle ruler" or "war leader."

Historical references to the surname Wirick are relatively scarce, but it is found in old German manuscripts and records. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appeared in a 12th-century document listing landholdings in the region of Franconia. The name appears in various forms over time, including Wigeric, Weirich, and Wyrick, reflecting regional dialects and the evolution of language.

Early instances of the surname include Anselm Wigeric, a noted figure who lived in the late 12th century and was mentioned in association with the Abbey of Fulda. His contributions to the monastery's records and his role in local governance provide a glimpse into the early instances of the surname within ecclesiastical and administrative contexts.

In the 14th century, a notable bearer of the name was Heinrich Wyrick, a knight who served under Emperor Charles IV. His service in the Bohemian campaign and subsequent knighthood in 1356 brought the surname into the annals of military history. Heinrich's involvement in these historical events shows the link between the surname Wirick and the medieval European knightly class.

By the 16th century, the surname appeared in various civic documents. Johann Weirich was a mayor in the town of Würzburg, renowned for his leadership during a tumultuous period marked by peasant uprisings and political strife. His governance is documented in town records dated 1558, illustrating the surname's association with civic duty.

Moving forward to the 17th century, another person of note is Maria Wirick, a woman whose trials during the Thirty Years' War were recorded in local chronicles. Her resilience and the stories surrounding her family's survival through the war years highlight the endurance of those bearing the surname during periods of intense conflict.

In the 18th century, the name crossed into the arts with Franz Joseph Weirich, born in 1722, who became a distinguished composer and violinist in the courts of Vienna. His works contribute to the rich tapestry of baroque music and show the cultural contributions of those bearing the surname.

The surname Wirick continues to be found in historical records spanning various regions and contexts, signifying a rich heritage and diverse past. The etymological roots, historical occurrences, and noteworthy individuals demonstrate the enduring legacy of the Wirick surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wirick

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

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

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

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