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

Wismer, 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 Wismer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wismer in America

Wismer is the 23587th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wismer surname appeared 1,076 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 Wismer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wismer 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 Wismer

The surname Wismer originates from Germany, specifically from the region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and it dates back to the medieval period. One of the earliest mentions of the surname can be traced to the town of Wismar, which was a crucial trading center during the Hanseatic League, a commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Northwestern and Central Europe. The name likely derives from this geographical area, indicating that early bearers of the surname either hailed from Wismar or were affiliated with it in some capacity.

Etymologically, the name Wismar itself is thought to derive from Old High German, with "wis" or "wisa" meaning meadow and "mar" referring to a body of water or lake, thus possibly signifying a meadow near a lake. Given the town's favorable location along the Baltic Sea, this interpretation aligns well with the geographical features of the area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname appears in the Lubeck City Archives from the 13th century, relating to a Johannes Wismer, a merchant who was documented in the trade rolls in 1274. Another significant historical reference is found in the Rostock Chronicle, which mentions a Dietrich Wismer, born in 1310 and documented in city proceedings during the early 14th century. These early records provide insight into the movement and social status of individuals bearing the surname within the Hanseatic trade network.

The surname underwent various spellings over the centuries, influenced by linguistic shifts and regional dialects. For example, the spelling Wismere appeared in the late 14th century in deeds and land records, notably an Adam Wismere in Hamburg recorded in 1372. As German-speaking communities migrated, some variations of the surname include Wisemur and Wissmer, though these are less common.

Famous individuals bearing the surname include Heinrich Wismer, a noted 18th-century German clockmaker from Bremen, whose clocks are prized by collectors today. Another prominent figure was Carl Wismer, an advocate for educational reforms in the early 19th century, born in 1795 and known for his treatises on pedagogy published in 1823. Additionally, Johann Wismer, a painter born in 1802 and active within the Danish Golden Age of art, contributed to the cultural exchange between Germany and Denmark.

The surname also made its way across the Atlantic with early immigrants to North America. One of the prominent early settlers was Hans Wismer, documented arriving in Pennsylvania in the early 18th century and becoming an influential member of the Mennonite community. His descendants continued to play significant roles in local development, such as John Wismer, born in 1750, who served in the American Revolutionary War.

In summary, the surname Wismer carries a rich historical and etymological legacy tracing back to the medieval period in Germany. From its origins in the town of Wismar, it evolved through various spellings and spread across regions and continents, influenced by the movements and contributions of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wismer

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

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

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

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