Explore the Family Name Wenger
The meaning of Wenger
German: 1. habitational name for someone from any of various places in Bavaria, Austria, and Switzerland named Weng, Wengen, or Wangen. 2. topographic name from South German Wang or Weng denoting a grass-covered slope. 3. in some cases a variant of Wegner. Compare Winger. History: As a name of Swiss German origin the surname Wenger is quite common among the American Mennonites; the altered form Winger is also found among them. Their progenitor was Christian Wenger, who came to PA in 1727 and settled in Lancaster County.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Wenger in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Wenger has remained fairly consistent between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 3333rd most popular surname in the United States, moving slightly to the 3369th position by 2010. This indicates a minor decrease in rank by 1.08%. Despite this minor shift in ranking, the actual count of individuals with the Wenger surname increased from 9,839 in 2000 to 10,596 in 2010, reflecting a growth of 7.69%. The proportion per 100,000 people decreased marginally from 3.65 to 3.59 during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,333 | #3,369 | -1.08% |
| Count | 9,839 | 10,596 | 7.69% |
| Proportion per 100k | 3.65 | 3.59 | -1.64% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Wenger
The ethnic identity associated with the Wenger surname also saw some changes between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census. The largest percentage identified as White, making up 97.47% of Wengers in 2000, which slightly decreased to 96.36% in 2010. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Black both saw increases, from 0.37% to 0.45% and 0.35% to 0.40%, respectively. Those identifying as Hispanic almost doubled from 0.98% to 1.59%. Individuals identifying with two or more races also saw a significant increase from 0.63% to 1.04%. The only group to see a decrease were those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native, dropping from 0.21% to 0.16%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.47% | 96.36% | -1.14% |
| Hispanic | 0.98% | 1.59% | 62.24% |
| Two or More Races | 0.63% | 1.04% | 65.08% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.37% | 0.45% | 21.62% |
| Black | 0.35% | 0.4% | 14.29% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.21% | 0.16% | -23.81% |
Wenger ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Wenger is French & German, which comprises 50.5% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (24.2%) and Ashkenazi Jewish (7.1%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Eastern European, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Indigenous American.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| French & German | 50.5% |
| British & Irish | 24.2% |
| Ashkenazi Jewish | 7.1% |
| Other | 18.2% |
Possible origins of the surname Wenger
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Wenger have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 67.40% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 66.80% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 66.80% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 66.30% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 66.30% |
What Wenger haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Wenger is R-Z209, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-Z209 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-P311 and R-L51, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Irish, Huddleston, Ruggles, Nadeau, Maness, Benoit, Loy, Harlan, Jauregui, Loomis.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Wenger surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Wenger have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Wenger" Surname 42.4%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Wenger" Surname 21.7%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Wenger" Surname 15.1%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Wenger" Surname 14.8%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Wenger?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Wenger are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition