Wise Family History

Wise Surname Meaning

English: nickname for a wise or learned person from Middle English wise wisse ‘wise’ (Old English wīs). This name has also absorbed Dutch Wijs and De Wijs a nickname meaning ‘(the) wise’ and possibly cognates in other languages.

English: topographic name for someone who lived by the withies or willows from Middle English withi Old English wīthig ‘withy willow’. Americanized form of German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) Weiss ‘white’.

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

Similar surnames: Wish, Wire, Wiese, Wile, Wiss, Fish, Rise, Vise, West, Dise

569K	Birth, Marriage, and Deaths
75K	Military Records
33K	Immigration Records
434K	Census and Voter Lists
1M	Member Trees

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Where is the Wise family from?

You can see how Wise families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wise family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wise families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 1,322 Wise families living in London. This was about 22% of all the recorded Wise's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Wise families in 1891.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wise surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Wise

What did your Wise ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General labourer and Unpaid domestic duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Wise. 10% of Wise men worked as a General labourer and 69% of Wise women worked as an Unpaid domestic duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wise were Builders labourer and Private means.

View Census Data for Wise

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.

General labourer

10%

Bricklayer

Gardener

Builders labourer

Unpaid domestic duties

69%

Housewife

Unpaid domestic

Private means

What Wise family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 434K census records available for the last name Wise. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wise census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wise

Passenger List

There are 33K immigration records available for the last name Wise. 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 Wise immigration records

Military Records

There are 75K military records available for the last name Wise. For the veterans among your Wise ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wise military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wise family history

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What is the average Wise lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Wise life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Wise in 1940 was 29, and 73 in 2004.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Wise family tree

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Wise Surname Meaning

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

Where is the Wise family from?

What did your Wise ancestors do for a living?

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.

General labourer

10%

Bricklayer

Gardener

Builders labourer

Unpaid domestic duties

69%

Housewife

Unpaid domestic

Private means

What Wise family records will you find?

What is the average Wise lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Wise life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Wise in 1940 was 29, and 73 in 2004.

Wise Family History

Wise Surname Meaning

2 million record(s) for Wise

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Wise family from?

What did your Wise ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Wise family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Wise family history

What is the average Wise lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Wise family tree

Search for another surname

Wise Surname Meaning

2 million record(s) for Wise

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Wise family from?

What did your Wise ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Wise family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Wise family history

What is the average Wise lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Wise family tree

Search for another surname