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

Wigington, 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 Wigington surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wigington in America

Wigington is the 19019th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wigington surname appeared 1,432 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 Wigington.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wigington 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 Wigington

The surname Wigington originates from England, specifically tracing back to medieval times. The name is believed to be locational, derived from a place name. It likely refers to "the farm or settlement of Wicga," from the Old English personal name "Wicga," meaning "beetle" or "insect," combined with "tun," meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." The addition of the suffix "ing," denoting "people of," further solidifies the name's connection to an ancient settlement or group of people associated with an individual named Wicga.

During the medieval period, surnames began to stabilize and pass down through families in England. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wigington can be traced to the 13th century when individuals started to adopt surnames for tax and census purposes. A notable historical reference can be found in the Hundred Rolls, a census-like document from the reign of Edward I in 1273, where variations of the surname appear. These records provide a fascinating glimpse into the way surnames were spelled and recorded long before standardized spelling became common.

One of the earliest recorded people with the surname Wigington is Thomas de Wigynton, who lived during the late 13th century. His name appears in various documents highlighting land transactions and local governance. Another early record is of Richard Wigynton in the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire in 1332, offering further evidence of the name's presence in the Midlands region of England during the medieval period.

As England progressed through the centuries, individuals bearing the surname Wigington continued to appear in various records. William Wigington, born around 1480, is mentioned in legal documents from the Elizabethan era, providing additional context to the surname's endurance through time. In the 17th century, John Wigington is documented as a landowner in Nottinghamshire, with records indicating his significant contributions to local agricultural development.

In the 18th century, we see another prominent figure, Thomas Wigington (1690-1760), who was involved in early colonial trade between England and the American colonies. His business ventures are well-documented in maritime records and correspondence, showcasing the family's expansion and influence beyond English shores.

Finally, in the 19th century, Elizabeth Wigington, a notable figure in the women's suffrage movement, born in 1820 and passing in 1887, made significant strides in advancing women's rights in England. Her advocacy and public speaking made her a renowned figure, securing the Wigington surname in the annals of social and political history.

Through centuries of records, land deeds, and historical documents, the surname Wigington reveals a rich tapestry of English heritage, underscoring its longstanding presence and contributions to various facets of society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wigington

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!