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Originally from the Lusatia region of Germany, southeast of Berlin, a small handful of Wendish families began immigrating to Texas in 1849. In 1854, a larger migration of Wends occurred — people driven primarily by a search for religious freedom.

The Wends (also known as Sorbs or Lusatian Serbs) are a Slavic people concentrated in East Germany near Bautzen and Cottbus in the upper Spree River valley, an area long known as Lusatia. They speak Sorbian, which is divided into two dialects, Upper Sorbian and Lower Sorbian.

The Wends were formerly Roman Catholic but the Peace of Augsburg in 1555 C.E decreed that whoever ruled the land could decide on its religion. The Wends in Lower Lusatia were in Brandenburg, Prussia and were consequently part of the change to Lutheranism.

Examples of Upper Wendish surnames. Many Wendish family names originate from professions. For example: Wowčer (shepherd), Pohonč (carter/ coacher), Młynk (miller), Bur/Burik (farmer), Hornčer (potter), Kowar (smith), Korčmar (inn-keeper) and Smoler (tar-maker).

The Wends or Sorbs of Germany are an originally Slavic group in what is now southern East Germany, in the area called Lusatia (Lausitz), around the cities of Bautzen and Cottbus.

It refers not to a homogeneous people, but to various peoples, tribes or groups depending on where and when it was used. In the modern day, communities identifying as Wendish exist in Slovenia, Austria, Lusatia, Texas, and Australia.