2000
#122,534
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 130
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Wedgworth
A locational surname derived from a place name in Somerset, England.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 194 Americans carry the last name Wedgworth. That puts it at #110,961 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,766,775 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wedgworth 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
194
1 in 1,766,775
Census rank
#110,961
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
169
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 169 bearers of the surname Wedgworth in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 110961st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wedgworth, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.6%. The next largest groups are Black (6.5%) and Hispanic (5.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Wedgworth
The surname Wedgworth has its origins in England, dating back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "wedhg" meaning wedge and "worth" meaning an enclosed homestead or farm. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived on or near a wedge-shaped piece of land.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Weggawurth" in the county of Somerset. This entry likely refers to a place name rather than a personal name, indicating that the surname may have originated from a specific location.
By the 13th century, the name had evolved into various spellings such as "Weggeworth," "Wegworth," and "Wedgworth." These variations can be found in historical records and documents from different parts of England, particularly in the South West region.
A notable bearer of the Wedgworth name was Sir John Wedgworth (c. 1430-1499), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of King Edward IV. He played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses, supporting the Yorkist cause.
Another prominent figure was Thomas Wedgworth (1550-1615), a renowned clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton. He wrote several influential works on theology and church governance during the Elizabethan era.
In the 17th century, the Wedgworth family established themselves in the town of Wedmore, located in Somerset. This place name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "wedd" meaning pledge or covenant, and "mor" meaning a moor or marshland. It is possible that the surname Wedgworth may have been influenced by this place name.
During the 18th century, a branch of the Wedgworth family migrated to the American colonies, where they settled in various parts of the eastern seaboard. One notable individual from this period was Benjamin Wedgworth (1720-1795), a prominent merchant and landowner in Virginia.
Another figure of note was Elizabeth Wedgworth (1765-1845), a writer and poet from Gloucestershire, England. Her works were widely published and celebrated during her lifetime, and she was considered a pioneer of women's literature in the early 19th century.
Throughout its history, the surname Wedgworth has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, particularly in the South West counties of Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Devon. While not a particularly common name, it has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting the rich tapestry of English history and culture.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wedgworth
Among Census respondents with the surname Wedgworth, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.6%. The next largest groups are Black (6.5%) and Hispanic (5.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Wedgworth 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 Wedgworth surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White87.6% · 148
- Black or African American6.5% · 11
- Hispanic or Latino5.3% · 9
- Two or more races0.6% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Wedgworth
Wedgworth 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
#110,286
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 160
+30 bearers (+23.1%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Up 12,248 places
2020
#110,961
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 169
+9 bearers (+5.6%)
Per 100,000 0.06
Rank movement Down 675 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #122,534 | 130 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #110,286 | 160 | 0.05 | +30 bearers (+23.1%) | Up 12,248 places |
| 2020 | #110,961 | 169 | 0.06 | +9 bearers (+5.6%) | Down 675 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 Wedgworth 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 | #110,286 | #110,961 | -0.6% |
| Count | 160 | 169 | 5.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.06 | 13.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Wedgworth bearers went from 160 to 169 (+5.6% change). The surname moved down 675 positions in the national ranking, going from #110,286 to #110,961.
FAQ
Wedgworth surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Wedgworth?
Name Census estimates that about 194 living Americans carry the surname Wedgworth. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,766,775 residents.
How common is Wedgworth?
Wedgworth ranks #110,961 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.06 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 169 people with the surname Wedgworth. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (194), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.06 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.06 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 Wedgworth.
Has Wedgworth become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Wedgworth went from 160 recorded bearers to 169. That is an increase of 9 (+5.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #110,286 to #110,961.
What does the Census say about the background of Wedgworth?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wedgworth, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.6%. The next largest groups are Black (6.5%) and Hispanic (5.3%). 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?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Wedgworth in the 2020 Census, accounting for 87.6% (148 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Wedgworth appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (87.6%), Black (6.5%), Hispanic (5.3%). 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 Wedgworth (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 Wedgworth mean?
A locational surname derived from a place name in Somerset, England. 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 Wedgworth (0.06 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 have the last name Wedgworth?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans have the surname Wedgworth on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.