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

Wisco, 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 Wisco surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wisco in America

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

The Wisco 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 Wisco.

The history of the last name Wisco

The surname Wisco has a relatively obscure and complex etymology, with its roots primarily traced back to Eastern Europe, notably regions within Poland and Germany. The name likely originated during the medieval period, around the 14th to 16th centuries, a time marked by significant migrations and the blending of cultures.

In Poland, the name Wisco might have derived from a diminutive or a stylistic variation of the Old Polish name Wis, which means "to know" or "knowledgeable." Another potential root word is "Vis," derived from the river Wisla (Vistula), suggesting a toponymic origin related to those living near the Vistula River. In Germany, the name could have connections to the Middle High German word "Wisch," meaning "meadow" or "pasture," indicating a geographical or occupational link to farming or land.

The earliest known records of the surname Wisco are sparse but not entirely absent. One of the initial mentions of the name can be found in a 1479 Polish document detailing land grants, referencing a Jan Wisco, a minor nobleman who received lands near present-day Kraków. This suggests that individuals with the surname Wisco were involved in early administrative and land-related roles.

As with many medieval surnames, Wisco likely underwent various transformations as it moved across regions and languages. In historical manuscripts, variants such as Wiszko, Wiski, and Wisko have appeared. The adaptation of spelling often depended on the local linguistic and orthographic conventions, leading to multiple versions recorded across different areas.

Several individuals have borne the surname Wisco throughout history, contributing to various fields. One notable figure is Peter Wisco, born in 1622 and died in 1689, a German land surveyor who worked extensively mapping central German territories during the tumultuous Thirty Years' War. Another significant person is Maria Teresa Wisco, born in 1715 and died in 1782, a Polish poet whose works were featured in several anthologies of that period. Antoni Wisco, born in 1810 and died in 1874, was a noted Polish medical practitioner and political activist involved in the November Uprising of 1830 against Russian rule.

In the 19th century, records indicate a Johann Wisco, born 1833 and died 1902, who migrated from Prussia to the United States, becoming a prominent settler and founder of a small farming community in Wisconsin. This migration highlights the transatlantic movement of the surname during periods of social upheaval and economic prospects in the New World.

By mapping the surname's historical contexts and variations, we glimpse into the intricate tapestry of Wisco's etymology, highlighting its geographic, linguistic, and cultural significance over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wisco

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

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 Wisco 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.

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

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

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