2000
#147,095
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Wohlschlaeger
A German surname referring to a prosperous butcher or slaughterer.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 134 Americans carry the last name Wohlschlaeger. That puts it at #144,270 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,557,868 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wohlschlaeger 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
134
1 in 2,557,868
Census rank
#144,270
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
117
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 117 bearers of the surname Wohlschlaeger in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 144270th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wohlschlaeger, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Two or More Races (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Wohlschlaeger
The surname Wohlschlaeger finds its origins in Germany, specifically within the regions that now comprise modern-day Bavaria and Austria. The roots of this surname can be traced back to the High Middle Ages, around the 12th and 13th centuries. It is a compound surname derived from the German words "wohl," meaning "well" or "good," and "Schläger," which translates to "striker" or "hitter." The term Schläger was historically used to describe someone who was a strongman, an athlete, or perhaps a combatant proficient with a weapon. It may also have been a nickname for a robust worker or someone who achieved good results in their endeavors.
Wohlschlaeger, as a surname, can be classified as descriptive, highlighting the notable personal characteristics or occupational prowess of an ancestor. The exact manner in which this surname came into use provides insight into the way medieval German-speaking communities functioned, with surnames often reflecting occupations, physical attributes, or notable deeds.
Early historical references to the surname appear in manorial rolls and local annals. One of the earliest known records dates back to 1361, involving a Johann Wohlschlaeger listed in a Bavarian tax register. These registers were essential in medieval times for the administration of taxes and local governance, indicating that individuals with this surname were part of organized society and had a role that warranted documentation.
One notable figure carrying this surname was Friedrich Wohlschlaeger (1442-1508), a prominent merchant based in Nuremberg. His business dealings were documented in several trade ledgers, confirming the presence and influence of the Wohlschlaeger name in economic spheres during the late Middle Ages.
In the 16th century, Wolfram Wohlschlaeger (1510-1576) became known for his contributions to cartography and navigation. His maps were widely respected and used by explorers of the period, and his work had a lasting impact on the field. Historical documents from this era refer to his surname, indicating its persistent use over generations and its association with intellectual and practical achievements.
The surname continued to appear in various European records throughout the subsequent centuries. Mathilde Wohlschlaeger (1798-1874) was a noted composer in Vienna whose musical compositions were performed at royal courts and public concerts, contributing richly to the cultural tapestry of the time.
In the late 19th century, Heinrich Wohlschlaeger (1845-1902) made significant contributions to the field of chemistry, with several scientific papers to his name. His research and discoveries were acknowledged by his contemporaries and cited in academic journals, solidifying the Wohlschlaeger name within the scientific community.
Additionally, the name has been borne by various individuals notable in different professions across Europe. An example includes Karl Wohlschlaeger (1878-1952), a pioneer in early aviation engineering, who played a critical role in the development of aircraft technology leading up to World War I.
The surname Wohlschlaeger, thus, provides a window into the multifaceted lives of those who carried it, reflecting a rich heritage marked by economic, scientific, and cultural contributions over a span of centuries. Its historical trajectory illustrates the enduring legacy and varied professions of individuals with this noteworthy surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wohlschlaeger
Among Census respondents with the surname Wohlschlaeger, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Two or More Races (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Wohlschlaeger 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 Wohlschlaeger surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.3% · 108
- Hispanic or Latino2.6% · 3
- Two or more races2.6% · 3
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Wohlschlaeger
Wohlschlaeger 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
#144,141
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
+12 bearers (+11.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 2,954 places
2020
#144,270
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
+2 bearers (+1.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 129 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #147,095 | 103 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #144,141 | 115 | 0.04 | +12 bearers (+11.7%) | Up 2,954 places |
| 2020 | #144,270 | 117 | 0.04 | +2 bearers (+1.7%) | Down 129 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 Wohlschlaeger 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 | #144,141 | #144,270 | -0.1% |
| Count | 115 | 117 | 1.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -2.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Wohlschlaeger bearers went from 115 to 117 (+1.7% change). The surname moved down 129 positions in the national ranking, going from #144,141 to #144,270.
FAQ
Wohlschlaeger surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Wohlschlaeger?
Name Census estimates that about 134 living Americans carry the surname Wohlschlaeger. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,557,868 residents.
How common is Wohlschlaeger?
Wohlschlaeger ranks #144,270 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 117 people with the surname Wohlschlaeger. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (134), 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 Wohlschlaeger.
Has Wohlschlaeger become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Wohlschlaeger went from 115 recorded bearers to 117. That is an increase of 2 (+1.7%). In the national ranking it fell from #144,141 to #144,270.
What does the Census say about the background of Wohlschlaeger?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wohlschlaeger, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Two or More Races (2.6%). 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 Wohlschlaeger in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.3% (108 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Wohlschlaeger appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.3%), Hispanic (2.6%), Two or More Races (2.6%). 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 Wohlschlaeger (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 Wohlschlaeger mean?
A German surname referring to a prosperous butcher or slaughterer. 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 Wohlschlaeger (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 share the surname Wohlschlaeger?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.