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

Wischhusen, 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 Wischhusen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wischhusen in America

Wischhusen is the 148347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wischhusen surname appeared 111 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 Wischhusen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wischhusen 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 Wischhusen

The surname Wischhusen originates from Germany, specifically the northern regions close to the North Sea and the Baltic coasts. It dates back to the medieval period, with earliest roots likely tracing back to the 14th or 15th century. It has derivations connected to the Low German dialects spoken in the region, with possible ties to the Westphalian and Lower Saxon areas.

The name Wischhusen appears to be a compound of two elements: "wisch" and "husen." In the Low German dialect, "wisch" is connected to the Old Saxon word "wiske" or "wiski," which means "meadow" or "pasture." The second part, "husen," is derived from "haus," meaning "house" or "dwelling." Taken together, Wischhusen likely refers to a person or family from a house by the meadow.

Historical records reference the name Wischhusen in various legal documents and town registries dating back to the early 1500s. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is found in the Hamburg archives, where a Hans Wischhusen was noted as a prominent merchant in 1523. The name appears consistently in baptism, marriage, and death records in towns such as Bremen, Lübeck, and Oldenburg during the 16th century.

Near the end of the Thirty Years' War, a Johann Wischhusen played a crucial role as a local leader in the defense of the town of Lübeck, helping to negotiate terms with the Swedish forces in 1653. His contributions were documented in the Lübeck town records, showcasing the family's increasing significance in regional affairs.

In the 18th century, another notable individual bearing the surname was Anna Katharina Wischhusen, born in 1720 in Bremen, who became known for her extensive philanthropic efforts. She established several charitable institutions that provided support for widows and orphans, a legacy that continued well into the 19th century.

The surname also appears in the annals of exploratory history during the 19th century. Heinrich Wilhelm Wischhusen, born 1798, from Hamburg, embarked on various trading missions to South America. His detailed journals provide valuable insights into the trading routes and international relationships of the time, particularly between Europe and Argentina.

Lastly, the artist Karl Friedrich Wischhusen, born in 1867 in Kiel, gained recognition for his landscape paintings which often depicted the lush meadows and serene countryside typical of Northern Germany. His works were exhibited in major German cities and contributed to the cultural heritage of the region, capturing the essence of the environment that originally inspired the family's name.

Through these historical references and individual contributions, the surname Wischhusen showcases a rich and varied past rooted deeply in the geographical and cultural landscapes of northern Germany.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wischhusen

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

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

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

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