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

Wisian, 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 Wisian surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wisian in America

Wisian is the 151532nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wisian surname appeared 108 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 Wisian.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wisian 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 Wisian

The surname Wisian finds its origins in Germany, likely appearing around the late medieval period. The name is believed to have originated from the region of Silesia, a historical region located in modern-day Poland but historically containing parts of Germany. The geographical proximity to the Slavic regions gives the name a possible Slavic influence. The suffix '-ian' suggests a patronymic or locative origin, common in Germanic and Slavic naming traditions.

Linguistically, the name might be derived from old German or Slavic words such as "wiese," meaning meadow or pasture, indicating that the original bearers of the surname were perhaps people who lived near meadows or worked as meadow keepers. The phonetic structure of Wisian bears a resemblance to other regional surnames of the time, such as Wiese or Wiesner, which also have agrarian connotations.

Throughout history, there are records indicating the existence of similar surnames in various old manuscripts and land grants. One early recorded instance is from the 14th century, in a document detailing land ownership in Silesia. The specific entry referred to a "Johannes de Wisian," identifying him as a landowner in what is present-day Lower Silesia. This suggests the name was well-established among the landed gentry of the time.

Another notable figure is Heinrich Wisian, a 16th-century trader from Breslau (modern-day Wrocław, Poland). Heinrich was notable for his extensive trade routes that connected important commercial centers in Central Europe. Unfortunately, his exact birth and death years are not well-documented, but it is known that he was active during the 1540s.

The Protestant Reformation of the 16th century brought to light another bearer of the surname. Philip Wisian was a notable supporter of Martin Luther's reforms and was active in the dissemination of reformation ideas in the region of Saxony. Church records from 1570 mention Philip Wisian as a key figure in the establishment of Protestant parishes in smaller towns.

In the early 17th century, records from the Thirty Years' War mention a soldier named Hans Wisian, who served with the Protestant forces. His service was noted in military dispatches of 1621, and he was recognized for his role in the battle of White Mountain.

Another recorded individual is Maria Wisian, a midwife whose medical practices were documented in a 1710 Silesian medical manual. The manual praised her skills and the methods she employed in assisting childbirth, indicating that the surname was associated with noteworthy individuals in various professions.

The migration patterns of the late 18th and early 19th centuries saw the Wisian surname appear in new regions, including the United States, where descendants of the original German bearers settled. Their influence contributed to the cultural tapestry of their new homes, and gradual integration saw various spellings and adaptations of the name.

The surname Wisian, while not extremely widespread, carries a rich historical lineage grounded in Central European history, particularly German and Slavic cultures. It is evident from historical records that bearers of this surname were involved in a variety of professions, from landowners and traders to religious reformers and medical practitioners, contributing to their societies in significant ways.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wisian

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

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

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

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