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

Woehrle, 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 Woehrle surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Woehrle in America

Woehrle is the 41038th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Woehrle surname appeared 531 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 Woehrle.

We can also compare 2010 data for Woehrle 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 Woehrle

The surname Woehrle has its origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly in areas that are now part of Germany and Switzerland. The earliest known references to the surname date back to the Middle Ages, suggesting that it has been in use for several centuries. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "werle," which can be translated to mean a "small field" or "meadow." This indicates that the surname originally might have been given to people who lived near or worked on small tracts of land.

Historical records show variations of the surname such as Werle, Werl, and Werlin. These early forms of the name appear in feudal documents, land registers, and parish records. For example, the name Werle appears in documents concerning land ownership and taxation in the 13th century in regions like Swabia and Baden-Württemberg. This suggests that the bearers of the name might have been landowners or people of some importance in their local communities.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name is Heinrich Werlin, born around 1320, who is mentioned in a charter from the town of Stuttgart. This record indicates that Heinrich was a landowner with certain social standing in his community. The transition from “Werlin” to “Woehrle” took place over the centuries, likely influenced by regional dialects and changing orthographic standards.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Woehrle appears more frequently in church registers and municipal records, reflecting its spread across southern Germany and into Switzerland. For example, Johann Woehrle, born in 1605 in Freiburg, is recorded as a master craftsman in the city's guild records. These records illustrate the socio-economic mobility of the family over generations, progressing from land-based occupations to skilled trades.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Woehrle include Georg Woehrle, born in 1832, who was a prominent academic and published several treatises on natural science in Karlsruhe. His work contributed significantly to the scientific community of his time. Another noteworthy figure is Karl Woehrle, born in 1879, a painter who was part of the early 20th-century Expressionist movement in Munich, and his works are still exhibited in German galleries.

The American diaspora also brought the Woehrle surname across the Atlantic in the 19th century, particularly during periods of German emigration. Heinrich Woehrle, born in 1845, emigrated to the United States in 1868 and became a successful brewer in Milwaukee, contributing to the city's rich brewing tradition. His family's brewery was well known in the midwestern United States and was mentioned in several trade journals of the period.

In summary, the surname Woehrle has a deep historical lineage dating back to medieval Germany and Switzerland. It originally described individuals connected to small fields or meadows but has since evolved to include various professional identities. The name is linked with landowners, craftsmen, academics, artists, and entrepreneurs, each contributing to the rich tapestry of its history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Woehrle

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

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

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

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