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

Wurst, 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 Wurst surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wurst in America

Wurst is the 13997th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wurst surname appeared 2,153 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Wurst.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wurst 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 Wurst

The surname "WURST" is of German origin, deriving from the Old High German word "wurst," which means "sausage." It first emerged in the regions of central and southern Germany during the Middle Ages, around the 12th century.

The name was initially an occupational surname, given to individuals involved in the production or sale of sausages. In medieval times, surnames were often derived from a person's trade or occupation, as a way to distinguish individuals within a community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "WURST" can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time, likely among butchers or sausage makers in the region.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Hans Wurst is mentioned in the Nürnberger Polizeiordunung, a set of municipal regulations from the city of Nuremberg. Hans Wurst was a traveling entertainer and satirist, known for his comedic performances and social commentary.

During the 16th century, the surname "WURST" spread beyond German-speaking regions as people migrated to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas. One notable bearer of this name was Johann Wurst (1551-1616), a German theologian and philosopher who taught at the University of Wittenberg.

Another individual of note was Johann Philipp Wurst (1701-1765), a German composer and organist who served as the court musician for the Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst. His works were highly regarded during his lifetime and contributed to the development of German baroque music.

In the 19th century, the surname "WURST" can be found in various records and documents across Europe and the Americas. For instance, Johann Andreas Wurst (1808-1884) was a German-American musician and composer who settled in Pennsylvania and became known for his contributions to the development of American folk music.

While the surname "WURST" has its origins in an occupational context, it has since evolved into a widely recognized family name, carried by individuals from various walks of life and across different regions of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wurst

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

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

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

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