2000
#134,929
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Wyrwas
A Polish surname meaning "one who distrubs the peace" or "one who causes trouble".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 140 Americans carry the last name Wyrwas. That puts it at #140,525 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,448,245 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wyrwas 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
140
1 in 2,448,245
Census rank
#140,525
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
122
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 122 bearers of the surname Wyrwas in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 140525th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wyrwas, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.5%) and Hispanic (0.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Wyrwas
The surname Wyrwas traces its origins to Poland, a country with a rich tapestry of linguistic and cultural history. The name is commonly associated with the regions of Silesia and Greater Poland, known for their varied historical influences and ethnic groups. The time period of its earliest usage likely dates back to the Middle Ages. The surname is believed to be derived from an old Slavic word, possibly relating to characteristics or occupations of the people from that area.
Historical references to the surname Wyrwas are scant but notable when they appear. While not as prominently featured as some other surnames in records such as the Domesday Book in England, Polish archives and parish records from the 16th and 17th centuries occasionally mention individuals bearing this surname. These mentions indicate that the name had achieved a certain level of societal recognition by this time.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Wyrwas can be found in a church register from 1598, where a Jan Wyrwas was listed as a parishioner in Poznań, a major city in Greater Poland and a cultural hub during that period. This record stands as evidence of the name's usage and the presence of individuals who might have held some prominence in their local community.
In the 17th century, a Marcin Wyrwas, noted for his craftsmanship as a blacksmith, was documented in regional guild records in Wrocław, Silesia. His contributions to the local trade and the community help underline the practical skills often associated with bearers of this surname.
Moving forward, the 18th century saw the name appear in academic circles. Stanisław Wyrwas, born in 1723, was known for his work as a minor local scholar, contributing to early educational efforts in the Greater Poland region. His work primarily focused on local history and Slavic traditions, and his writings, albeit limited, are preserved in regional archives.
By the 19th century, the Wyrwas surname had spread across Poland and even into neighboring regions due to migrations and political changes. Helena Wyrwas, born in 1820 in the town of Kalisz, gained some recognition for her social work and efforts in improving education for women at the time. Her life's work has been documented in various essays focusing on the role of women in Polish society.
In the early 20th century, Tadeusz Wyrwas, born in 1890, emerged as a notable figure in Poland's struggle for independence and subsequent political scene. He was active in various underground movements during World War I and later held a minor governmental position, contributing to the burgeoning framework of modern Poland.
The surname Wyrwas continues to be part of Poland's cultural and social fabric, with historical roots that speak to the diverse and rich heritage of the country. The documented individuals with this surname highlight various facets of life—from craftsmanship and scholarship to social work and political involvement—reflecting the dynamic contributions of the Wyrwas lineage to Polish history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wyrwas
Among Census respondents with the surname Wyrwas, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.5%) and Hispanic (0.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Wyrwas 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 Wyrwas surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.9% · 117
- Two or more races2.5% · 3
- Hispanic or Latino0.8% · 1
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Wyrwas
Wyrwas 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
#118,185
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 147
+32 bearers (+27.8%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Up 16,744 places
2020
#140,525
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 122
-25 bearers (-17.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 22,340 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #134,929 | 115 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #118,185 | 147 | 0.05 | +32 bearers (+27.8%) | Up 16,744 places |
| 2020 | #140,525 | 122 | 0.04 | -25 bearers (-17.0%) | Down 22,340 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 Wyrwas 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 | #118,185 | #140,525 | -18.9% |
| Count | 147 | 122 | -17.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.04 | -18.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Wyrwas bearers went from 147 to 122 (-17.0% change). The surname moved down 22,340 positions in the national ranking, going from #118,185 to #140,525.
FAQ
Wyrwas surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Wyrwas?
Name Census estimates that about 140 living Americans carry the surname Wyrwas. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,448,245 residents.
How common is Wyrwas?
Wyrwas ranks #140,525 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 122 people with the surname Wyrwas. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (140), 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 Wyrwas.
Has Wyrwas become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Wyrwas went from 147 recorded bearers to 122. That is a decrease of 25 (-17.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #118,185 to #140,525.
What does the Census say about the background of Wyrwas?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wyrwas, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.5%) and Hispanic (0.8%). 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 Wyrwas in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.9% (117 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Wyrwas appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (95.9%), Two or More Races (2.5%), Hispanic (0.8%). 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 Wyrwas (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 Wyrwas mean?
A Polish surname meaning "one who distrubs the peace" or "one who causes trouble". 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 Wyrwas (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 have the last name Wyrwas?
Find out how many people have the last name Wyrwas on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.