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

Wisby, 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 Wisby surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wisby in America

Wisby is the 47429th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wisby surname appeared 447 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 Wisby.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wisby 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 Wisby

The surname Wisby originates from England and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to be toponymic, deriving from a place name. Such surnames were often based on the names of towns or landmarks and given to people who hailed from those locations. Specifically, Wisby is linked to the town of Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, England. Over time, the spelling evolved and variations such as Wisbey and Wisbie have been recorded.

The name Wisbech itself is derived from Old English, wherein 'wisce' means 'marshy meadow' and 'bece' translates to 'stream' or 'brook'. This etymology points to the geographical features of the area that influenced the naming. The historical development of the spelling over centuries saw alternations, but the roots remained consistent.

Historical references to the surname can be found in medieval manuscripts and local records. One such early recorded instance appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where John de Wisbech is mentioned. This designation of 'de' indicates that John was from Wisbech, linking him to the location directly. The surname gradually transitioned into Wisby as people moved and the necessity of geographical distinctions waned.

An important historical figure with this surname is Robert Wisby, born around 1450 and mentioned in various legal documents of the late 15th century. Another notable bearer is Thomas Wisbie, an English yeoman born in the early 1600s, who made his mark in regional historical records of the 17th century.

A significant mention in ecclesiastical history is Reverend Charles Wisby, born in 1780, who served as a clergyman in England during the early 19th century. His contributions to the local church and community were well-documented in parish records of the time.

In the realm of scholarly pursuit, Henry Wisby, born in 1827, is acknowledged for his work on local history and contributions to early archaeological findings in Cambridgeshire. He wrote extensively, thereby preserving much of the local history and lore connected with his surname.

Another influential individual was Eliza Wisby, an advocate for women's education in the mid-1800s. Her contributions were particularly notable in setting up schools and promoting literacy among women in her community. She lived from 1835 to 1897 and left a lasting impact on educational reforms in her region.

The surname Wisby, wrapped in layers of history and region-specific influences, continues to carry the heritage of its origins. From marshy meadows to scholarly pursuits, the name encapsulates a journey through English history, marked by geographic and social evolution.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wisby

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

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

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

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