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

Wisener, 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 Wisener surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wisener in America

Wisener is the 20727th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wisener surname appeared 1,276 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 Wisener.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wisener 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 Wisener

The surname Wisener is believed to originate from Germany, specifically from the regions of Lower Saxony or Bavaria, dating back to the medieval period between the 12th and 14th centuries. The name "Wisener" is thought to be derived from the Middle High German word "wîsen," meaning "to show" or "to point out," often linked to someone who was a guide or a leader. Another theory suggests that it may also be connected to the Old German word "wiesen," which translates to "meadow," indicating that the bearer originally lived near or worked in a meadow.

Historical references to the surname Wisener appear in various old records and manuscripts. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the late 13th century in the region of Lower Saxony. The name appears in the feudal records of the era, indicating that individuals with the surname held land or titles under the local lordship. This period saw the establishment of many surnames as a way to indicate familial lineage and occupation.

The earliest instances of the name include references to a Heinrich Wisenhart, documented in 1297 in the town of Hanover. This individual was noted as a landowner and a minor noble, suggesting the surname had connotations of status or landownership at this time. Another early example is a Hans Wisenfeld, who is registered in church records from Munich in 1324. This particular record indicates that Hans was a prominent member of the local community, as church records often highlighted individuals of significance.

During the 15th century, the name appears in tax records and civic documents in several German principalities. Martin Wisener, born in 1456 and died in 1522, was one such individual who was documented as a merchant in Frankfurt. His trading activities, recorded in the city's guilds' archives, suggest that members of the Wisener family had by then ventured into urban professions, indicating socio-economic mobility.

The surname also migrated beyond its Germanic origins, particularly with the waves of emigration in the 18th and 19th centuries. One noteworthy migrant is Friedrich Wisener, born in 1762, who immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1785. Records from Philadelphia indicate that Friedrich established a successful business, contributing to the burgeoning American economy of the post-revolutionary period.

In the 19th century, John Wisener, born in 1835 and died in 1897, became a significant figure in political circles in Tennessee, USA. He served as a state legislator and was known for his advocacy in educational reform, further elevating the status of the surname in the New World.

The surname Wisener, therefore, holds a rich tapestry of historical significance, steeped in its Germanic roots and evolving through time with socio-economic changes and migrations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wisener

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

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

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

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