2000
#139,757
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Wurr
A variant of the German occupational surname "Weber" referring to a weaver.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 125 Americans carry the last name Wurr. That puts it at #150,205 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,742,035 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wurr 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Wurr with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
125
1 in 2,742,035
Census rank
#150,205
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
109
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 109 bearers of the surname Wurr in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 150205th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wurr, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.1%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (8.3%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Wurr
The surname Wurr is believed to have originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe, possibly around the medieval period. Its etymology suggests that it may be derived from an old Germanic word or a variant thereof. The precise meaning of the surname is somewhat ambiguous, but it may have connections to the Old High German word wurm, meaning "worm" or "serpent," which could symbolize a fierce or resilient individual. This kind of totemic significance was not uncommon in surnames from that era.
Historical records indicate that the surname Wurr appeared in various forms throughout central and northern Europe. In Germany, it appeared in records dating back to the 13th century, with variations such as Wur and Vuor. Manuscript evidence from towns like Frankfurt and Cologne makes mention of individuals bearing this surname, often associated with trades or occupations. A spelling variant, Wuer, has also been noted in Bavarian records from the early 15th century.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname is Hans Wurr, a merchant recorded in Lübeck in 1397. Lübeck, being a central trade hub of the Hanseatic League, would have been a significant place for this surname's early proliferation. Hans Wurr was known for his extensive trade routes that extended into Scandinavia, making the name identifiable in various regional records.
Another prominent individual with this surname was Martin Wurr, a Protestant reformer from the 16th century who actively participated in the Reformation movements in southern Germany. Born in 1512, Martin was a contemporary of Martin Luther and contributed to the dissemination of Protestant ideas through his writings, which were widely circulated during his time.
The surname also made its way into England by the early 17th century, largely due to migration and trade. A notable bearer in this context was Thomas Wurr, recorded as a shipbuilder in London around 1623. His craftsmanship contributed to the expanding naval capabilities of England and his name appears in various ship registries and guild records of the time.
In more recent history, Johannes Wurr, born in 1834 in Bavaria, made significant contributions to the field of botany. His research on Alpine flora earned him recognition within European scientific circles. His extensive herbarium and written works are still referenced by botanists today.
Lastly, Karl Friedrich Wurr, born in 1867, was a notable figure in the realm of engineering. His innovations in mechanical design influenced various aspects of early automotive technology. He held several patents and his work was pivotal during the industrial boom of late 19th century Germany.
The surname Wurr, though not widely common, has appeared through various histories and regions, often carried by individuals who made significant contributions to their respective fields or communities. The name carries a rich amalgamation of linguistic roots and historical significance, marking its place in the annals of European heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wurr
Among Census respondents with the surname Wurr, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.1%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (8.3%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Wurr 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 Wurr surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.1% · 96
- Asian and Pacific Islander8.3% · 9
- Hispanic or Latino1.8% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Wurr
Wurr 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
#157,234
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
-7 bearers (-6.4%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 17,477 places
2020
#150,205
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
+6 bearers (+5.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 7,029 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #139,757 | 110 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #157,234 | 103 | 0.03 | -7 bearers (-6.4%) | Down 17,477 places |
| 2020 | #150,205 | 109 | 0.04 | +6 bearers (+5.8%) | Up 7,029 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 Wurr 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 | #157,234 | #150,205 | 4.5% |
| Count | 103 | 109 | 5.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 21.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Wurr bearers went from 103 to 109 (+5.8% change). The surname moved up 7,029 positions in the national ranking, going from #157,234 to #150,205.
FAQ
Wurr surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Wurr?
Name Census estimates that about 125 living Americans carry the surname Wurr. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,742,035 residents.
How common is Wurr?
Wurr ranks #150,205 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 109 people with the surname Wurr. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (125), 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 Wurr.
Has Wurr become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Wurr went from 103 recorded bearers to 109. That is an increase of 6 (+5.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #157,234 to #150,205.
What does the Census say about the background of Wurr?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wurr, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.1%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (8.3%) and Hispanic (1.8%). 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 Wurr in the 2020 Census, accounting for 88.1% (96 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Wurr appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (88.1%), Asian/Pacific Islander (8.3%), Hispanic (1.8%). 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 Wurr (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 Wurr mean?
A variant of the German occupational surname "Weber" referring to a weaver. 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 Wurr (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 Wurr?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.