Wacker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The history of the Wacker family name begins in the German province of Bavaria. Wacker is a nickname surname, a class of German names derived from eke-names, or added names, that described people by a personal characteristic or other attribute. Wacker is a name for a person who was watchful.

Early Origins of the Wacker family

The surname Wacker was first found in Bavaria and Wuerttemberg, where the name was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. They branched into many houses, and their contributions were sought by many leaders in their search for power.

Early History of the Wacker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wacker research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1632, 1695 and 1792 are included under the topic Early Wacker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wacker Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Wacker include Wacker, Wackerl (Bavaria), Wackert, Waeckerle and many more.

Early Notables of the Wacker family

More information is included under the topic Early Wacker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wacker Ranking

In the United States, the name Wacker is the 7,564^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Wacker migration to the United States +

Between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries, German settlers arrived in North America by the thousands. Persecution based on religion and poverty were great motivators in this large-scale migration. So too was the opportunity for tenant farmers to own their own land. Ample land and opportunity awaited the settlers who went to such states as Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, as well as Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Wacker or a variant listed above:

Wacker Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Andreas Wacker, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1738
Bernhart Wacker, who settled in Philadelphia in 1749
Geo Wacker, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 2
Jacob Wacker, who settled in Maryland in 1765
Johann Wacker, who landed in America in 1783 2

Wacker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Wacker, aged 18, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1807 2
John Wacker settled along the Mississippi at the age of 40 in 1820
Anton Wacker, aged 49, who landed in St Louis, Missouri in 1846 2
Christian Adam Wacker, who landed in America in 1853 2
Ludwig Wacker, who landed in New York, NY in 1853 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Wacker migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Wacker Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Charles Wacker, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Princess Helena" in 1850 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Wacker (post 1700) +

Louis Wacker (1934-2019), American football player and coach who played professionally with the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL
Grant Albert Wacker (b. 1945), American historian of Christianity in the United States
Charles James "Jimmy" Wacker (1883-1948), American professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1909
Jim Wacker (1937-2003), American football college head coach at Texas Lutheran University (1971-1975), North Dakota State University (1976-1978), and many more, AFCA College Division Coach of the Year (1982), Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award (1984)
Frederick G. "Fred" Wacker (1918-1998), American racing driver, engineer and former president of two large Chicago companies
Charles Henry Wacker (1856-1929), American businessman and philanthropist, Vice Chairman of the General Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, Chairman of the Chicago Plan Commission
Ingrid Wacker (d. 2009), German film editor (1954-1975)
Otto Wacker (1898-1970), German art dealer
Alfred Wacker (b. 1918), Swiss Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe (1973-83)

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PANAMA 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850PrincessHelena.gif