Find out how popular the last name Twiggs is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Twiggs.

Twiggs, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Twiggs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Twiggs in America

Twiggs is the 19782nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Twiggs surname appeared 1,360 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Twiggs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Twiggs to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Twiggs

The surname Twiggs is of English origin, derived from a place name in Lancashire, England. It is believed to have originated in the 13th century from the Old English words "twi" meaning "two" and "gsece" meaning "stream or brook," referring to a location near two streams or brooks.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England compiled by order of William the Conqueror, the name appears as "Twyges" and is associated with the village of Twiggs in Lancashire. This early spelling variation suggests the name's long history and connection to a specific geographical location.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Twiggs was Sir John Twiggs, a nobleman who lived in the late 14th century. He was a prominent landowner in Lancashire and is mentioned in various historical records from that time.

During the 16th century, the name appears in the parish records of Wigan, Lancashire, with entries for families such as Robert Twiggs (born around 1520) and his son, William Twiggs (born in 1548).

In the 17th century, the Twiggs surname spread beyond Lancashire as some members of the family migrated to other parts of England and eventually to the American colonies. One notable figure was Thomas Twiggs, born in England in 1675, who settled in Virginia and became a successful plantation owner.

Another prominent individual with the Twiggs surname was David Emanuel Twiggs, an American military officer who served in the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War. He was born in Georgia in 1790 and had a distinguished career in the United States Army.

In the 19th century, John Twiggs, born in England in 1815, was a successful businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Liverpool. He established several charitable organizations and was known for his efforts to improve the lives of the working class.

Additionally, James Twiggs, born in Ireland in 1845, was a renowned poet and author, known for his works capturing the essence of rural Irish life. His collected poems and stories remain popular to this day.

The Twiggs surname has a rich history rooted in the English countryside, with its origins dating back to the medieval period. While the name has spread globally over the centuries, its connection to the village of Twiggs in Lancashire remains an integral part of its etymology and heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Twiggs

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Twiggs.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Twiggs was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Twiggs has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Twiggs was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Twiggs, please contact us.

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