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

Wishon, 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 Wishon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wishon in America

Wishon is the 19878th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wishon surname appeared 1,352 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 Wishon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wishon 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 Wishon

The surname Wishon is believed to have its origins in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a variant or derivative of the name Wisham or Wycham, which itself may have originated from various place names in England. The name likely derives from Old English roots, combining "wic" meaning a settlement or dwelling place and "ham" meaning home or village, collectively pointing to a homestead or settlement of significance.

Historical references to the name Wishon or its variants can be traced back to medieval England. While there may not be direct references in some well-known documents like the Domesday Book, related surnames such as Wisham or Wycham have been documented in other period records, like tax rolls and manorial documents. An early recorded instance is in the 13th century, found in the Hundred Rolls, a census-like record from that age, noting a William de Wysham in 1273.

The name evolved over centuries, with spelling variations such as Wysham and Wishom appearing in different records. The variations in spelling were common due to the lack of standardized spelling in old English and regional dialects influencing how names were written.

Thomas Wishon, born in the mid-16th century, serves as one of the earliest individuals with the surname in public records. He is cited in parish registers in Norfolk, England, tied to local agricultural developments at that time. Another early bearer, Elizabeth Wishon, born around 1600, appears in baptismal records in Worcestershire, a region known for its rural communities and evolving woolen industry.

During the 17th century, with the advent of British colonial expansion, individuals with the surname Wishon emigrated to North America. John Wishon, born in 1652, was one such settler who established his family in Virginia. His descendants became part of the burgeoning agrarian society in the American colonies.

By the 18th and 19th centuries, documented individuals like George Wishon, born in 1775, contributed to local governance and infrastructure developments in Maryland. Peter Wishon, born in 1828, played a role in community-building efforts amid westward expansion in the United States. Their contributions help illustrate the surname's spread and integration across English-speaking regions of the world.

The surname continued to proliferate mostly in rural and small-town settings, maintaining its linkage to settlement and homestead etymology. While detailed specifics for every Wishon may not be extensively documented, these historical records affirm the name's presence and its bearers' roles in shaping local histories and communities through centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wishon

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

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

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

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