UK surname
An occupational surname referring to a fuller or cleaner of cloth, derived from the German word "wacken" meaning "to full."
In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Wacker surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 48, ranked #35,004, down from #25,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Northfleet, Rochdale and Kings Norton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wacker is 320 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 17.2%.
1881 census count
58
Ranked #25,428
Modern count
48
2016, ranked #35,004
Peak year
1891
320 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wacker surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wacker surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 45 | #25,168 |
| 1861 | historical | 231 | #10,572 |
| 1881 | historical | 58 | #25,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 320 | #10,546 |
| 1901 | historical | 118 | #20,721 |
| 1911 | historical | 98 | #22,959 |
| 1997 | modern | 41 | #33,552 |
| 1998 | modern | 48 | #33,111 |
| 1999 | modern | 48 | #33,233 |
| 2000 | modern | 52 | #32,916 |
| 2001 | modern | 53 | #32,674 |
| 2002 | modern | 59 | #32,468 |
| 2003 | modern | 63 | #32,152 |
| 2004 | modern | 50 | #33,566 |
| 2005 | modern | 51 | #33,701 |
| 2006 | modern | 50 | #34,077 |
| 2007 | modern | 54 | #34,042 |
| 2008 | modern | 54 | #34,232 |
| 2009 | modern | 49 | #34,728 |
| 2010 | modern | 50 | #34,833 |
| 2011 | modern | 48 | #34,926 |
| 2012 | modern | 37 | #35,531 |
| 2013 | modern | 43 | #35,271 |
| 2014 | modern | 47 | #35,097 |
| 2015 | modern | 47 | #35,056 |
| 2016 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Northfleet, Rochdale, Kings Norton, Leeds and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northfleet | Kent |
| 2 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 3 | Kings Norton | Worcestershire |
| 4 | Leeds | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wacker surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wacker, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Wacker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wacker household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Wacker is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wacker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wacker, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname WACKER is of German origin, deriving from the Middle High German word "wacker" meaning "watchful" or "vigilant." It is believed to have originated as an occupational name for a watchman or guard.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the WACKER surname can be found in the town of Nuremberg, Germany, in the 14th century. A man named Henne Wacker was mentioned in a document from 1348, indicating that the name was already in use at that time.
In the 15th century, the WACKER surname appeared in various records throughout southern Germany, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Franconia. For example, a Hans Wacker was documented in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in 1492.
The WACKER surname has also been associated with certain place names in Germany, such as the town of Wackersdorf in Bavaria. It is possible that some individuals with the surname may have taken their name from these locations or vice versa.
One notable individual with the WACKER surname was Johann Wacker, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1550 to 1619. His works can be found in various churches and museums throughout Germany.
Another prominent figure was Georg Wacker, a German theologian and philosopher who was born in 1632 and died in 1683. He was known for his works on theology and ethics, and served as a professor at the University of Jena.
In the 18th century, Johann Georg Wacker, born in 1746 and died in 1819, was a German composer and organist who contributed to the development of church music during that period.
The WACKER surname also gained recognition in the 19th century with Carl Wacker, a German industrialist who founded the Wacker Chemie AG company in 1914, which is still a major player in the chemical industry today.
Lastly, a more recent historical figure was Theodor Wacker, a German politician and lawyer who lived from 1845 to 1925. He served as a member of the Reichstag (the German parliament) and was involved in various legal and political reforms.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wacker surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Aberdeenshire leads with 10 Wackers recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.09x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeenshire | 10 | 19.09x |
| Kent | 9 | 4.66x |
| Essex | 8 | 7.17x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 1.41x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 3.51x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 0.89x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.45x |
| Cumberland | 2 | 4.11x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 2.30x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 2.36x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.85x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.59x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 2.57x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.55x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.11x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire leads with 10 Wackers recorded in 1881 and an index of 680.27x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Fraserburgh | 10 | 680.27x |
| Greenwich | 9 | 100.00x |
| Leyton Low | 8 | 352.42x |
| Birmingham | 5 | 10.52x |
| Sculcoates | 4 | 44.99x |
| Tottenham | 3 | 33.30x |
| Mile End Old Town | 2 | 22.40x |
| Moresby | 2 | 1052.63x |
| Norwich St Mary At Coslany | 2 | 800.00x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 8.80x |
| Barony | 1 | 2.16x |
| Broxbourne | 1 | 129.87x |
| Doncaster | 1 | 24.45x |
| Great Grimsby | 1 | 17.42x |
| Ilfracombe | 1 | 82.64x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 4.81x |
| Reading St Mary | 1 | 29.41x |
| Royton | 1 | 48.78x |
| St George In East | 1 | 25.97x |
| Stockton On Tees | 1 | 12.33x |
| Westminster St | 1 | 47.85x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wacker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wacker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Wacker households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Tailor | 2 |
| Builder | 1 |
| Butler Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coalminer | 1 |
| Confectioner | 1 |
| Confectioners Wife | 1 |
| Cotton Operative | 1 |
| Dealer | 1 |
| Farm Serv (Indoor) | 1 |
| Hairdresser | 1 |
| Labo Builders | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Labourer In Iron Works | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Packer (Y L) | 1 |
| Servant (Domestic) | 1 |
| Stationer Assistant | 1 |
| Sugar Baker | 1 |
| Toll Gate Keeper | 1 |
| Visitor | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Wacker surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 48 in 2016. That gives Wacker a modern rank of #35,004.
An occupational surname referring to a fuller or cleaner of cloth, derived from the German word "wacken" meaning "to full."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wacker bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.