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Wanzer Family History

Wanzer Surname Meaning

Americanized form of Flemish or Dutch Wanshaer itself possibly an altered form of German or alternatively Wallon Wansart: from the medieval personal name Wanshart formed with the ancient Germanic elements wan ‘hope expectation’ + hart ‘hardy brave’;

alternatively perhaps a habitational name from Wansart in Grand-Rosière Wallonia. The surname Wanzer is also common among African Americans.

The surname Wanshaer is not found in the Netherlands or Belgium.

Compare Wanser Wansor and Wonser.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Wanzer family from?

You can see how Wanzer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wanzer family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Wanzer families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 18 Wanzer families living in New York. This was about 72% of all the recorded Wanzer's in USA. New York had the highest population of Wanzer families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wanzer surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Wanzer ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Wanzer. 34% of Wanzer men worked as a Laborer and 20% of Wanzer women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wanzer were Salesman and Housewife.

View Census Data for Wanzer | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    34%
  • Farmer
    20%
  • Janitor
    10%
  • Salesman
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    20%
  • Clerk
    15%
  • Maid
    15%
  • Housewife
    15%

What Wanzer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Wanzer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wanzer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wanzer

Passenger Lists

There are 549 immigration records available for the last name Wanzer. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Wanzer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 958 military records available for the last name Wanzer. For the veterans among your Wanzer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wanzer military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wanzer family history

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What is the average Wanzer lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Wanzer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1949, and highest in 1975. The average life expectancy for Wanzer in 1949 was 41, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wanzer

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wanzer ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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