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

Wohlers, 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 Wohlers surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wohlers in America

Wohlers is the 20601st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wohlers surname appeared 1,286 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 Wohlers.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wohlers 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 Wohlers

The surname Wohlers has its origins in Germany, specifically in the northern regions such as Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony. This name can be traced back to the High Middle Ages, approximately the 12th to 14th centuries. It is believed to be derived from the Middle Low German word "Wol," which means "wolf," combined with a suffix "-ers," indicating "son of" or "descendant of." Thus, Wohlers could be interpreted as "son of the wolf" or "descendant of the wolf."

The name Wohlers and its variants appear sporadically in old records and documents. One of the earliest known mentions dates back to the 14th century in Northern Germany, where the name appeared in local church records and land deeds. Variants of the name, such as Wohlert and Wöller, were also recorded in similar historical contexts, indicating a common root.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Wohlers. A significant figure is Johann Friedrich Wohlers, a German missionary who was born in 1811 and died in 1885. He is well-known for his work in the South Pacific, particularly in New Zealand, where he helped establish schools and spread Christianity among the Maori population.

Karl Friedrich Wohlers, born in 1788 and died in 1861, was another prominent individual. He was a revered educator and author in Germany, known for his contributions to educational reforms during the 19th century.

Another figure of historical importance is Helmut Wohlers, a German athlete born in 1926 who excelled in track and field events. His participation and achievements in national competitions during the mid-20th century brought recognition to the surname in the realm of sports.

In the sphere of politics, Heinrich Wohlers, born in 1804 and died in 1872, served as a local official in Schleswig-Holstein. His political career and advocacy for regional governance reforms were notable during a period of significant social and political change in Germany.

Lastly, Ernst Wohlers, an engineer and inventor born in 1845, made substantial contributions to industrial engineering in the latter half of the 19th century. His innovations improved mechanical processes in various industries, marking him as a significant figure in the field of applied science.

The surname Wohlers thus has deep historical roots in Northern Germany, with meanings related to ancestral and symbolic connections to the wolf. Over the centuries, individuals bearing this name have made remarkable contributions across diverse fields such as religion, education, sports, politics, and engineering.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wohlers

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

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

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

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