History of your Surname
Get access to Wiss family records.Start a free trial

Wiss Family History

Wiss Name Meaning

German: variant of Weiss . This surname is also found in France (mainly Alsace). North German: nickname for a sure reliable person from Middle Low German wisse ‘sure reliable’. English: variant of Wise .

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


Similar surnames: Weiss, Wass, Wise, Kiss, Biss, Fiss, Niss, Guss, Lass, Diss

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Wiss family from?

You can see how Wiss families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wiss family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wiss families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there were 7 Wiss families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 70% of all the recorded Wiss's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Wiss families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wiss surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Wiss ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Wiss. 86% of Wiss women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. .

View Census Data for Wiss | 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.

England shown, United States data unavailable

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    86%
  • Domestic Duties Unpaid
    15%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Wiss family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 10,000 census records available for the last name Wiss. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wiss census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Wiss

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Wiss. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Wiss immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Wiss. For the veterans among your Wiss ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wiss military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wiss family history

Discover More

What is the average Wiss lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Wiss life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1962, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Wiss in 1954 was 48, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wiss

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Wiss family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Wiss last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial