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

Woeste, 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 Woeste surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Woeste in America

Woeste is the 38754th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Woeste surname appeared 570 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 Woeste.

We can also compare 2010 data for Woeste 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 Woeste

The surname Woeste finds its origins in Germany, particularly in the northwestern regions such as Westphalia. The name first appeared in the medieval period, around the 12th to 13th centuries. It is derived from the Middle Low German word "wost," which means "wild" or "desolate." This suggests that the name might have originally been a topographical surname for someone who lived in or near an uncultivated or desolate area.

In old records, the surname Woeste appears in various forms such as Woste, Woest, and Wost. The earliest recorded example of the name can be traced back to a manuscript from 1256, where a Henricus de Woeste is mentioned. This indicates that the name was established among the local gentry or freemen during this period.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Woeste was Hermann Woeste, a landowner in Westphalia during the late 14th century. His prominence in local affairs is documented in records from 1398, indicating the family's established presence in the region.

A historical reference to the name can be found in a 15th-century document detailing the lands owned by the Woeste family in the vicinity of Münster. Over time, the family expanded its influence, with members becoming notable figures in local governance and commerce.

Another distinguished individual was Johann Woeste, born in 1623, who served as a councilor in the town of Paderborn. He played a crucial role in the reconstruction efforts following the Thirty Years' War, contributing significantly to the region's recovery and development.

In the 19th century, Friedrich Wilhelm Woeste became a prominent industrialist in the Rhineland. Born in 1801 and passing away in 1881, he founded several manufacturing enterprises, which had a lasting impact on the local economy. His endeavors are well-documented in industrial archives of the period.

The surname also appears in records related to the German emigrants who moved to the United States in the 19th century. One such figure was Henry Woeste, who settled in Ohio in the 1850s and became an influential community leader, leaving a lasting legacy in the areas of agriculture and local politics.

Through centuries, the surname Woeste has been associated with various notable individuals across different fields, signifying its deep-rooted presence and influence in both German and international contexts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Woeste

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

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

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

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