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

Wiggin, 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 Wiggin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wiggin in America

Wiggin is the 15589th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wiggin surname appeared 1,876 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 Wiggin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wiggin 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 Wiggin

The surname Wiggin has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is predominantly derived from the Old English personal name Wīg, meaning "war" or "battle," combined with the Old Norse element gunnr, also meaning "war" or "battle." This etymology points to a name that likely originated as a warrior's epithet, a common element in Norse and Anglo-Saxon onomastics.

The earliest regions where the Wiggin surname appears prominently are in the counties of Cheshire and Lancashire in England. These areas were part of the Danelaw, a region heavily influenced by Norse settlers, which might explain the Norse element in the name. The surname appears in various medieval records, although not prominently in every document. It should be noted that surname spellings were not standardized until much later, so variations such as Wigan, Wiggins, and Wigun can also be found.

One of the earliest references to the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a Wigan is documented as a landowner. This likely refers to a place rather than a family name but suggests the regional prominence of the name. A similar instance is the town of Wigan in Greater Manchester, which was mentioned as "Wygan" in historical records, showing the connection to the surname.

The earliest recorded instance of the specific surname Wiggin can be found in the 13th century. One of the early noted individuals was Richard Wiggin, who was documented in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332. This record provides critical evidence of the name's use as a hereditary surname during the medieval period.

Sir John Wiggin, born in 1560 and died in 1622, was a notable figure during the Elizabethan era. He served as a Member of Parliament and was known for his involvement in the trade and political scenes of the time. His contribution to the local economy of Cheshire region during his tenure makes him a prominent historical figure associated with this surname.

Another significant individual was Thomas Wiggin, born in 1601 and died in 1666, who emigrated to New England. He was the first governor of the Upper Plantation in New Hampshire and played a critical role in the early colonial administration. His leadership and influence exemplify the spread of the surname beyond England to the New World during the 17th century.

Moving into the 19th century, Henry Arthur Wiggin, born in 1824 and died in 1905, was a well-known metallurgist and founder of the metal manufacturing company, Henry Wiggin & Co. His innovations in the field of metallurgy, particularly with nickel and other alloys, cemented his place in industrial history.

In literary circles, Robert D. Wiggins, born in 1877 and died in 1943, gained recognition as an author and editor. His contributions to early 20th-century literature and criticism were substantial, and his works are still studied in literary courses today. This highlights the surname's presence in various professional fields throughout history.

The surname Wiggin carries a rich legacy of medieval warfare, Norse and Anglo-Saxon influences, notable historical figures in politics, industry, and literature, and a transatlantic journey that saw its presence from medieval England to colonial America. This deep-rooted history underscores the enduring impact of the Wiggin surname over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wiggin

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

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

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

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