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

Wedge, 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 Wedge surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wedge in America

Wedge is the 12566th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wedge surname appeared 2,463 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Wedge.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wedge 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 Wedge

The surname Wedge is believed to have originated in England, potentially during the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "wecg," which means "wedge" or a triangular-shaped tool used for splitting materials. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked with wedges or made them as a profession.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Wedge can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This indicates that the name was present among the English population during the Norman conquest.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, where a certain William Wedge is mentioned as a landowner. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, indicating its presence in different regions of England.

The surname Wedge has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such person was John Wedge (c. 1584-1617), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Taunton, Somerset. He is known for his work "A View of the Present State of the Province of Munster" (1617), which provides insights into the Irish province during his time.

Another notable figure was Sir John Wedge (1639-1677), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for West Looe in Cornwall. He played a role in the Restoration of the monarchy and was knighted by King Charles II.

In the 18th century, Thomas Wedge (1717-1778) was a prominent English engraver and painter from London. He is known for his intricate engravings of architectural subjects and landscapes.

The 19th century saw the birth of Frederick Wedge (1844-1921), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Music and the Whitechapel Art Gallery.

Lastly, one of the more recent individuals with the surname Wedge was David Wedge (1920-2007), a British film and television actor who appeared in numerous productions throughout the 20th century, including popular shows like "The Avengers" and "Dad's Army."

While the surname Wedge has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and various diasporas. However, its origins and early history remain deeply rooted in the English language and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wedge

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

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 Wedge 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 Wedge 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 Wedge was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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