Explore the Family Name Wetsel
The meaning of Wetsel
Altered form of German Wetzel (see Wetzell).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Wetsel in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Wetsel's popularity witnessed a slight decline from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Wetsel was ranked 47,026th in popularity in the United States and this rank fell to 51,610 in 2010, reflecting a decrease of nearly 10%. The number of people sharing the Wetsel surname also dropped by over 5% during this period, moving from 425 in 2000 to 403 in 2010. Consequently, the proportion of people named Wetsel per 100k population dipped by 12.5%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #47,026 | #51,610 | -9.75% |
| Count | 425 | 403 | -5.18% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.16 | 0.14 | -12.5% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Wetsel
Regarding the ethnic identity associated with the surname Wetsel, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the majority of individuals with this name identified as White in both 2000 and 2010, although there was a slight decrease in this group's percentage from 95.76% to 93.55%. The proportion of those who identified as Hispanic saw a small increase from 2.59% to 2.73%. Interestingly, the fraction of Wetsels identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native grew significantly, rising by over 35%, albeit from a much smaller base of 1.65% in 2000 to 2.23% in 2010. No individuals with the Wetsel surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or Black in either year, while there were no reported instances of individuals identifying with two or more races.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.76% | 93.55% | -2.31% |
| Hispanic | 2.59% | 2.73% | 5.41% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.65% | 2.23% | 35.15% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |