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

Wigton, 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 Wigton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wigton in America

Wigton is the 30863rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wigton surname appeared 754 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 Wigton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wigton 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 Wigton

The surname Wigton originates from England, specifically from the northwestern region, and is believed to have emerged during the medieval period. The name is a toponym, derived from a place name in Cumbria. Wigton is a market town in the Allerdale borough of Cumbria, England, and its name has evolved from Old English elements. The term is thought to be derived from "Wicga's tūn," with "Wicga" being a personal name and "tūn" meaning farmstead or settlement.

The town of Wigton itself has historical references dating back to the Domesday Book, a great survey of England completed in 1086 on the orders of King William the Conqueror. By this time, the town was already established, although it appears under different spellings in various manuscripts. Variations of the name include Wictona, Wicton, and Wygton, reflecting the evolution of the English language over centuries.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname in use is found in the 13th century when individuals began adopting place names as surnames due to the increasing need to distinguish between people as populations grew. The spelling at this time could vary, and it is not uncommon to find "de Wigton" indicating someone hailing from the town of Wigton.

One historically significant figure bearing the surname was Thomas Wigton, born in 1290, who held land in the Wigton region. His presence is documented in medieval land charters, which indicate his participation in local governance and landholding.

In the 14th century, another notable individual was Sir John Wigton, circa 1320-1390, who served as a knight during the reign of King Edward III. His contributions to local military campaigns in the borders between England and Scotland were recorded in various chronicles of the time.

Moving to the 15th century, Richard Wigton, born circa 1455, appears in merchant records in Yorkshire. He was known for his activities as a wool trader, a significant industry in medieval England.

In the 17th century, Captain William Wigton, born in 1620, stands out as a military figure. He fought in the English Civil War, aligning himself with the Royalist cause. His life and service were documented in military logs and personal correspondences of the time.

By the 18th century, the surname had spread to other regions and even crossed oceans. George Wigton, born in 1705, was an early settler in the American colonies. His ventures and life are recorded in colonial records, particularly in Virginia where he established a substantial farmstead.

The surname Wigton is thus rooted deeply in the agrarian and martial history of medieval and post-medieval England, reflecting the evolution of language and society through its various spellings and historical references. The adoption of this surname signifies a connection to the geographical and historical lineage of the town of Wigton, passed down through several significant figures over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wigton

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

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

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

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