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

Womer, 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 Womer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Womer in America

Womer is the 22158th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Womer surname appeared 1,166 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 Womer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Womer 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 Womer

The surname Womer is believed to have its origins in Germany, most likely dating back to the early medieval period. The name is associated with regions such as Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, and Bavaria. It likely derives from the Old Germanic word "Wurm," meaning serpent or dragon, although variations in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries could have led to the current form.

Earliest records of the surname Womer can be traced to the middle ages. One of the earliest known references is Johannes Womerus, a cleric mentioned in church records from Mainz, Germany, in 1543. The appearance of the surname in such records suggests it was well established by the 16th century. Variations and older spellings include Wurmer, Vomer, and Wommer, indicating the fluidity of surnames during that time.

In historical manuscripts, the name Womer appears sporadically, often in local tax records and land deeds. For instance, a Georg Wommer is recorded as a landowner in Bavaria in 1621, highlighting the family's involvement in agrarian life. Additionally, Anna Womer, born in 1685 in the same region, is noted in marriage registries, suggesting the name persisted across generations in specific locales.

Several notable individuals bore the surname throughout history. Henry Womer, born in 1763, was a well-known miller in Hesse who contributed significantly to local grain milling techniques of his time. During the 18th century, the surname began to appear more frequently in emigration records, as the socio-political environment in Germany prompted numerous families to seek better opportunities abroad.

By the 19th century, Jacob Womer, born in 1820, became a prominent figure in academic circles in Germany, known for his work in early mechanical engineering. His contributions to industrial machinery have been documented in various scientific journals of the period. Another significant figure, Catherine Womer, born in 1847, played a crucial role in the women's suffrage movement in Berlin, advocating for the rights of women through numerous published essays and public speeches.

During the same century, Heinrich Womer, born in 1791, became a well-documented immigrant to the United States. He settled in Pennsylvania, where his descendants continued to use and proliferate the name. His involvement in local German-American communities highlights the spread and persistence of the surname in the New World.

In summation, the surname Womer has a rich historical tapestry originating in Germany, with varied spellings and significant bearers across centuries who contributed to educational, social, and economic developments within their respective regions. The name's presence in historical records underscores its longstanding heritage and geographical diffusion over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Womer

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

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

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

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