2000
#128,797
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 122
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Woeckener
A German surname meaning "someone from a place called Wöcken".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 124 Americans carry the last name Woeckener. That puts it at #150,935 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,764,148 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Woeckener surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
124
1 in 2,764,148
Census rank
#150,935
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
108
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 108 bearers of the surname Woeckener in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 150935th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Woeckener, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Woeckener
The surname Woeckener has its origins in Germany, specifically from the regions of Bavaria and the Rhineland. The surname can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 13th and 14th centuries. It is derived from the Middle High German word "waegner" or "weckner," which translates to "wagon maker" or "wheelwright," indicating an occupational origin related to the construction and repair of wagons and carts.
Records from the 14th century mention similar spellings such as Weckner, Wäckner, and Wökner, all of which are variants of Woeckener. These variations reflect regional dialects and spellings of the time. Manuscripts from Swabian and Bavarian areas frequently record the surname Woeckener, showcasing the family’s involvement in the vital trade of wagon making during the medieval and Renaissance periods.
The earliest documented instance of the surname Woeckener can be found in the town records of Nuremberg dated 1382, noting a "Hans Woeckener" involved in the local guild of wagon makers. Such guilds were crucial for medieval communities, underpinning the economy and infrastructure by ensuring a reliable supply of wagons for trade and agriculture.
In 1525, another notable bearer of the surname was "Jakob Woeckener" from Augsburg, who was recognized for his craftsmanship and contributions to the local economy during the early Reformation period. His work in wheel-making and wagon construction was essential for trade routes across the Holy Roman Empire, linking Augsburg to other major cities.
During the late 17th century, the surname appears in records from Franconia with "Johann Georg Woeckener," born in 1673. He was an influential figure in his community, documented as a master wheelwright who trained many apprentices, ensuring the continuation of this essential trade.
A significant mention of the surname Woeckener surfaces in the 18th century with "Friedrich Karl Woeckener" (1710–1784), a prominent wagon maker in Munich. His workshops were known for producing high-quality, durable wagons that were sought after by traders and merchants.
In the 19th century, "Ludwig Woeckener" (1820–1898) from the Rhineland brought a modernization to the trade, incorporating metal components into wagon designs which significantly improved their durability and efficiency. His innovations were instrumental during the industrial revolution, reflecting the shift in craftsmanship due to technological advancements.
While the surname Woeckener is relatively rare, its bearers throughout history have made notable contributions to the trade and infrastructure of their regions, leaving a lasting legacy through their skilled craftsmanship and dedication to their craft.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Woeckener
Among Census respondents with the surname Woeckener, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Woeckener bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Woeckener surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.7% · 98
- Two or more races5.6% · 6
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.9% · 2
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Woeckener
Woeckener appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#156,044
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 104
-18 bearers (-14.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 27,247 places
2020
#150,935
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
+4 bearers (+3.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 5,109 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #128,797 | 122 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #156,044 | 104 | 0.04 | -18 bearers (-14.8%) | Down 27,247 places |
| 2020 | #150,935 | 108 | 0.04 | +4 bearers (+3.8%) | Up 5,109 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Woeckener surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #156,044 | #150,935 | 3.3% |
| Count | 104 | 108 | 3.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -9.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Woeckener bearers went from 104 to 108 (+3.8% change). The surname moved up 5,109 positions in the national ranking, going from #156,044 to #150,935.
FAQ
Woeckener surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Woeckener?
Name Census estimates that about 124 living Americans carry the surname Woeckener. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,764,148 residents.
How common is Woeckener?
Woeckener ranks #150,935 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 108 people with the surname Woeckener. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (124), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Woeckener.
Has Woeckener become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Woeckener went from 104 recorded bearers to 108. That is an increase of 4 (+3.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #156,044 to #150,935.
What does the Census say about the background of Woeckener?
Among Census respondents with the surname Woeckener, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Woeckener in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.7% (98 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Woeckener appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (90.7%), Two or More Races (5.6%), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Woeckener (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Woeckener mean?
A German surname meaning "someone from a place called Wöcken". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Woeckener (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Woeckener?
If you just want to know how many people are called Woeckener, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.