2000
#141,788
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Wuerz
An occupational surname likely derived from the German word for "spice," referring to a spice trader or merchant.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 122 Americans carry the last name Wuerz. That puts it at #152,339 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,809,462 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wuerz 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
122
1 in 2,809,462
Census rank
#152,339
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
106
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 106 bearers of the surname Wuerz in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 152339th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wuerz, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (12.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Wuerz
The surname Wuerz can be traced back to German-speaking regions, specifically originating from Germany. The earliest documentation of the name dates back to the medieval period, around the 12th century. It is likely associated with the region of Swabia in southwestern Germany, an area historically known for its dialects and unique linguistic characteristics.
Etymologically, Wuerz is derived from the Middle High German word wirz or würz, which means "spice" or "herb". This suggests that the original bearers of the surname were possibly involved in the cultivation or trade of spices and herbs. The link to agricultural practices related to herbs and spices was a common occupational surname during this period.
One of the earliest recorded examples of this surname appears in a 13th-century document from the city of Ulm, a significant center in Swabia. The document mentions a Heinrich Wuerz, a local merchant known for trading spices, around the year 1260. This historical reference suggests the prominence of the Wuerz name in commercial activities at the time.
Over the centuries, the spelling of the surname has remained fairly consistent, avoiding the extensive variations that many other surnames underwent. However, variations such as Wurz and Wuerze have occasionally been documented, particularly in different dialectal regions within Germany.
Among the noteworthy individuals bearing this surname is Johann Georg Wuerz (1675-1751), a renowned botanist and apothecary who made significant contributions to herbal medicine. His works were influential in the pharmacopoeia of the time, especially within the region of Bavaria.
Another historical figure is Maria Wuerz (1786-1853), an educator and advocate for women's education. She played a crucial role in establishing one of the earliest schools for girls in Stuttgart, promoting the importance of educational opportunities for women during the early 19th century.
The Wuerz surname also resurfaces in the world of literature with Ernst Wuerz (1821-1899), a celebrated poet and playwright from Franconia. His works often reflected the socio-political climate of his time and contributed to the rich tapestry of German literary culture.
Friedrich Wuerz (1845-1922), an industrialist and philanthropist, advanced the economic landscape of the Rhineland by establishing several key manufacturing enterprises. His efforts not only boosted the local economy but also provided significant employment opportunities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In the realm of art, we find Clara Wuerz (1902-1987), a painter who left a profound impact on the expressionist movement in Germany. Her works displayed a unique blend of vibrant colors and powerful emotions, capturing the tumultuous period between the World Wars.
Throughout history, the surname Wuerz has been associated with individuals who made significant contributions to their fields, ranging from commerce and education to literature and the arts. The name carries a rich legacy that reflects the cultural and historical evolution of the German-speaking regions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wuerz
Among Census respondents with the surname Wuerz, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (12.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Wuerz 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 Wuerz surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White84.0% · 89
- Hispanic or Latino12.3% · 13
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.9% · 2
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Wuerz
Wuerz 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
#143,149
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
+8 bearers (+7.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 1,361 places
2020
#152,339
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
-10 bearers (-8.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 9,190 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #141,788 | 108 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #143,149 | 116 | 0.04 | +8 bearers (+7.4%) | Down 1,361 places |
| 2020 | #152,339 | 106 | 0.04 | -10 bearers (-8.6%) | Down 9,190 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 Wuerz 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 | #143,149 | #152,339 | -6.4% |
| Count | 116 | 106 | -8.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -11.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Wuerz bearers went from 116 to 106 (-8.6% change). The surname moved down 9,190 positions in the national ranking, going from #143,149 to #152,339.
FAQ
Wuerz surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Wuerz?
Name Census estimates that about 122 living Americans carry the surname Wuerz. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,809,462 residents.
How common is Wuerz?
Wuerz ranks #152,339 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 106 people with the surname Wuerz. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (122), 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 Wuerz.
Has Wuerz become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Wuerz went from 116 recorded bearers to 106. That is a decrease of 10 (-8.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #143,149 to #152,339.
What does the Census say about the background of Wuerz?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wuerz, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (12.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%). 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 Wuerz in the 2020 Census, accounting for 84.0% (89 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Wuerz appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (84.0%), Hispanic (12.3%), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%). 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 Wuerz (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 Wuerz mean?
An occupational surname likely derived from the German word for "spice," referring to a spice trader or merchant. 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 Wuerz (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 common is the surname Wuerz?
If you just want to know how many people have the surname Wuerz, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.