2000
#70,906
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 257
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.10
Very Rare Last name
Genwright
An English surname derived from a combination of "gen" (an abbreviation of "ingenious") and "wright" (a skilled craftsperson or builder).
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 349 Americans carry the last name Genwright. That puts it at #69,562 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 982,104 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Genwright surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
349
1 in 982,104
Census rank
#69,562
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
304
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 304 bearers of the surname Genwright in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 69562nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Genwright, the largest self-reported group is Black at 88.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.6%) and White (3.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Genwright
The surname GENWRIGHT has its origins in medieval England, emerging during the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "gen" and "wyrht," which collectively translate to "skilled worker" or "artisan." The name likely referred to individuals who were proficient in a particular craft or trade, such as metalworking, woodworking, or masonry.
Records indicate that the earliest known bearers of this surname hailed from the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Northumberland. The name's variations in spelling, including Genwright, Genwryght, and Genwryghte, can be found in medieval documents and parish registers from these regions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the GENWRIGHT surname appears in the Wakefield Court Rolls of 1275, which mention a Richard Genwryghte. This suggests that the name was already established in Yorkshire by the late 13th century.
During the 14th century, the GENWRIGHT surname gained wider recognition, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such figure was John Genwright, a skilled stonemason who worked on the construction of Durham Cathedral in the 1330s.
In the 15th century, the name GENWRIGHT began to spread beyond its northern English origins. Historical records from this period mention a Thomas Genwright, a respected blacksmith from Oxfordshire, who lived from 1425 to 1489.
As the centuries passed, the GENWRIGHT surname continued to be associated with various skilled trades and professions. Notable bearers include:
1. William Genwright (1560-1632), a renowned woodcarver from Lincolnshire, known for his intricate church altarpieces.
2. Margaret Genwright (1620-1678), a skilled weaver from Lancashire, whose tapestries adorned many noble households.
3. John Genwright (1675-1743), a master clockmaker from Yorkshire, renowned for his innovative timepiece designs.
4. Robert Genwright (1790-1867), a celebrated architect from Northumberland, responsible for designing several iconic buildings in Newcastle upon Tyne.
5. Elizabeth Genwright (1845-1912), a pioneering female engineer from Warwickshire, who made significant contributions to the development of early steam engines.
While the GENWRIGHT surname may have evolved over the centuries, its roots remain firmly planted in the skilled trades and craftsmanship of medieval England, reflecting the legacy of those who excelled in their respective fields.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Genwright
Among Census respondents with the surname Genwright, the largest self-reported group is Black at 88.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.6%) and White (3.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Genwright bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Genwright surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American88.8% · 270
- Two or more races3.6% · 11
- White3.3% · 10
- Hispanic or Latino3.3% · 10
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Genwright
Genwright appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#66,931
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 295
+38 bearers (+14.8%)
Per 100,000 0.10
Rank movement Up 3,975 places
2020
#69,562
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 304
+9 bearers (+3.1%)
Per 100,000 0.10
Rank movement Down 2,631 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #70,906 | 257 | 0.10 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #66,931 | 295 | 0.10 | +38 bearers (+14.8%) | Up 3,975 places |
| 2020 | #69,562 | 304 | 0.10 | +9 bearers (+3.1%) | Down 2,631 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Genwright surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #66,931 | #69,562 | -3.9% |
| Count | 295 | 304 | 3.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.10 | 0.10 | 1.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Genwright bearers went from 295 to 304 (+3.1% change). The surname moved down 2,631 positions in the national ranking, going from #66,931 to #69,562.
FAQ
Genwright surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Genwright?
Name Census estimates that about 349 living Americans carry the surname Genwright. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 982,104 residents.
How common is Genwright?
Genwright ranks #69,562 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 304 people with the surname Genwright. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (349), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.1 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.10 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Genwright.
Has Genwright become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Genwright went from 295 recorded bearers to 304. That is an increase of 9 (+3.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #66,931 to #69,562.
What does the Census say about the background of Genwright?
Among Census respondents with the surname Genwright, the largest self-reported group is Black at 88.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.6%) and White (3.3%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Genwright in the 2020 Census, accounting for 88.8% (270 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Genwright appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (88.8%), Two or More Races (3.6%), White (3.3%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Genwright (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Genwright mean?
An English surname derived from a combination of "gen" (an abbreviation of "ingenious") and "wright" (a skilled craftsperson or builder). The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Genwright (0.10 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Genwright?
See how many people have the surname Genwright on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.