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

Widger, 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 Widger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Widger in America

Widger is the 24762nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Widger surname appeared 1,006 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 Widger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Widger 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 Widger

The surname Widger is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the southwestern counties of Devon and Cornwall. The name is derived from Old English, with possible connections to the Old English word "wīc," meaning a settlement or dwelling place, and "ger," a common suffix in Old English names meaning "spear" or "warrior." This combination suggests that Widger may have initially described someone living at or near a particular dwelling place associated with a warrior or guard.

One of the earliest appearances of the surname Widger can be found in the parish records of Devon during the 12th century. The name appears in various old records and manuscripts, including tax records and ecclesiastical documents. This provides valuable insights into the name's long-standing presence in England. For instance, in the feet of fines records from the mid-13th century, a John le Widger was listed as a landowner in Devon, indicating the family had established itself in the region by this time.

Over time, the spelling of surnames was not standardized, and Widger was no exception. It has seen variations such as Wiger and Wydger in historical documents. These changes in spelling were common due to the phonetic recording of names by clerks who wrote them down as they sounded. This practice has led to multiple spellings even within the same family lineage.

In 1332, a notable bearer of the surname was Robert Widger, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset. His inclusion in tax records highlights the economic activity and presence of the Widger family in that county as well. Such entries provide a window into the daily lives and responsibilities of individuals bearing this surname during medieval England.

The Widger surname continued to be recorded over the centuries, with another prominent figure being Thomas Widger, born in the early 16th century. His life and times, though less documented, were part of the larger tapestry of English rural and possibly merchant life, contributing to the socio-economic fabric of the period.

In the 18th century, we encounter Mary Widger, born in 1720, who was recorded in marriage registries within the Devon area. Marriage records during this era are crucial as they denote the continuation of the family line and the integration of different family names through matrimonial alliances.

Another historically significant individual was William Widger, born in 1765, who was known in records related to land holdings and property disputes in the late 18th century. His documented dealings provide a glimpse into the legal and familial responsibilities faced by individuals of that surname during the late Georgian period.

The surname Widger, rich in historical context, illustrates the evolution and presence of a family name deeply rooted in English history. Through centuries, from medieval tax records to property disputes and marriage registries, the name has endured. Its bearers have contributed to their communities and maintained the lineage carried from the depths of English nomenclature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Widger

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

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

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

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