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

Wischmeyer, 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 Wischmeyer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wischmeyer in America

Wischmeyer is the 46811th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wischmeyer surname appeared 454 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 Wischmeyer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wischmeyer 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 Wischmeyer

The surname Wischmeyer has its origins in Germany, specifically in regions such as Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and other parts of Northern Germany. The name is considered to be of toponymic origin, which suggests it is derived from a geographical location associated with the person or family. The name combines two elements: "Wisch" and "Meyer." "Wisch" is derived from an Old High German word "wisc," meaning meadow or marsh, and "Meyer" comes from the Middle High German "mei(g)er," referring to a steward or tenant farmer. Together, Wischmeyer likely denotes someone who managed or farmed a meadow or marshland.

Historical records first mention the name Wischmeyer in the late Middle Ages. One of the earliest documented instances is in the Westphalian regions around the 14th century, where detailed feudal records mention a Henricus Wiscmari, a name that is believed to be an earlier form of Wischmeyer. The name appears in various registers and tax rolls, indicating that individuals bearing it were landowners or held administrative roles in their communities.

In the 15th century, records from the Hanseatic League, which dominated trade in Northern Europe, include a merchant named Johann Wischmeyer, born in 1423, who was active in trade throughout the North Sea and Baltic regions. His involvement in trading artifacts and goods points to the family's growing influence and economic status during this period.

A noteworthy example from the 16th century is Christoph Wischmeyer, who was born in 1567 and held a prominent position as a local magistrate in the town of Osnabrück. His detailed diary, preserved in the Osnabrück archives, provides valuable insights into the daily life and legal matters of his time, embodying the administrative significance the surname had gained in regional governance.

In the 18th century, the surname appears prominently in ecclesiastical records. One Johann Georg Wischmeyer, born in 1734, was a notable Lutheran pastor who played a vital role in the religious and social activities of his parish in Hanover. The church records from his period highlight his contributions to religious education and local reforms.

By the 19th century, individuals with the surname Wischmeyer had emigrated to various parts of the world, particularly the United States, due to political and economic upheavals in Europe. Among them was Friedrich Wischmeyer, born in 1802, who is listed as an early settler in Pennsylvania. His descendants played crucial roles in the development of their communities, showcasing the widespread migration patterns and the establishment of new roots outside Germany.

Overall, the surname Wischmeyer denotes a rich history filled with agricultural, administrative, and religious significance, reflecting the manifold roles its bearers have played over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wischmeyer

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

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

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

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