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

Wuerch, 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 Wuerch surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wuerch in America

Wuerch is the 117480th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wuerch surname appeared 148 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 Wuerch.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wuerch 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 Wuerch

The surname Wuerch has its origins in Germany, dating back to the early medieval period. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "werc," which means "work" or "labor." This suggests that the original bearers of the surname were likely associated with some form of labor or craftsmanship. The Germanic roots of the name hint at an occupational surname, one that denoted the profession or the role a person had within their community.

Old records indicate that the name Wuerch is most commonly found in regions like Saxony and Brandenburg. Historical manuscripts from these areas often show similar spellings such as Wuerk, Wurke, and Wuerche. One notable early reference appears in a tax register from the 13th century in the town of Quedlinburg, which listed a Wilhelm Wuerk as a blacksmith. Such references highlight the name's occupational ties and its early presence in German-speaking regions.

In addition to Wilhelm Wuerk, one of the earliest recorded examples of the surname is Peter Wuerch, a tradesman documented in 1347 in Leipzig. This suggests that the Wuerch family had established itself in important commercial centers early on. Another significant historical figure was Heinrich Wuerch, a farmer mentioned in a 1452 land grant in Brandenburg. Heinrich's involvement in land transactions provides insight into the family's social status and economic activities during the late Middle Ages.

The surname Wuerch continued to be prominent in various records throughout the centuries. For instance, Johannes Wuerch is documented as a guild member in the town of Wittenberg in 1568, indicating that the family had retained its artisanal connections. During the 17th century, Erasmus Wuerch, born in 1625, gained fame as a master carpenter in Leipzig, contributing to several significant building projects of the time. His work left a lasting impression on the architectural heritage of the region.

By the 19th century, the Wuerch surname had spread beyond its original regions. One notable figure was Friedrich Wuerch, born in 1820, who emigrated to the United States during the wave of German immigration in the mid-1800s. He settled in Wisconsin and became a prominent farmer, highlighting the spread and adaptation of the Wuerch family in new lands.

Noteworthy individuals bearing the surname continued to emerge over the years. Among them was Karl Wuerch, an educator in Berlin during the early 20th century, who was born in 1887 and played a pivotal role in educational reforms. His contributions to the academic community were well recognized. The persistence of the Wuerch surname through various professions and regions provides a rich tapestry of the family's historical journey from their ancestral German roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wuerch

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

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

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

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