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

Wiswell, 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 Wiswell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wiswell in America

Wiswell is the 27303rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wiswell surname appeared 885 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 Wiswell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wiswell 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 Wiswell

The surname Wiswell has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from the village of Wiswell in Lancashire. The name of the village itself originates from the Old English words "wisc," meaning "wet meadow," and "well," meaning "spring" or "stream." This suggests that the village of Wiswell was initially known for its well-watered meadows or springs.

The first recorded use of the surname Wiswell appears in historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One of the earliest mentions is in the Lancashire Assize Rolls of 1246, where a certain Richard de Wiswell is documented. This indicates that Richard likely hailed from the village of Wiswell, thus adopting the name as his surname.

Throughout history, various individuals with the surname Wiswell have made notable contributions in different fields. John Wiswell, born around 1520, was a landowner in Yorkshire who played a significant role in local agricultural development. His efforts and records of his estates were well-documented in the Yorkshire Deeds.

In the 17th century, during the English Civil War, Colonel William Wiswell distinguished himself as an officer in the Parliamentarian army. Born in 1602 and dying in 1670, his military strategies and leadership were notable during key battles, and his letters and orders have been preserved in military archives.

The 18th century saw the emergence of Reverend Samuel Wiswell, born in 1750 and passing in 1823, a notable clergyman who made substantial contributions to religious literature and the Anglican Church. His sermons and theological treatises are still cited in religious studies.

Moving into the 19th century, Mary Ann Wiswell, born in 1803 and dying in 1881, became a prominent social reformer involved in the early women's rights movement in England. Her activism and writings on education and women's suffrage are part of the social reform records of the Victorian era.

The surname Wiswell, with its ties to a specific geographical location and presence in historical documents, such as the Lancashire Assize Rolls, Yorkshire Deeds, and military and religious archives, provides a rich tapestry of English history. The contributions of individuals like Richard de Wiswell, John Wiswell, Colonel William Wiswell, Reverend Samuel Wiswell, and Mary Ann Wiswell underscore the diverse impact of this surname across centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wiswell

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

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

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

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