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

Wraith, 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 Wraith surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wraith in America

Wraith is the 103181st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wraith surname appeared 174 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 Wraith.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wraith 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 Wraith

The surname Wraith is primarily of English origin, with its earliest roots tracing back to the medieval period. The name is largely associated with the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire. The etymology of the surname Wraith is somewhat elusive, but it is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word 'vǫrðr', meaning "guardian" or "watchman." This is reflective of the Norse influence prevalent in northern England due to Viking settlements during the early medieval period.

The surname Wraith in its earliest recorded form appears in historical manuscripts and documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax records of 1379, where a John Wra was mentioned. The variations in spellings over centuries include Wra, Wrath, and Wraithe, suggesting a phonetic evolution of the name.

Historical references to the surname Wraith also appear in legal and property documents from the medieval and post-medieval periods. For example, a 1524 Lay Subsidy Roll for Lancashire lists a Thomas Wraithe, indicating the presence and localized prominence of the surname. Similarly, a William Wra was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in the late 13th century, further solidifying the geographical concentration of the surname in northern England.

One notable individual with the surname Wraith was Richard Wraith, born around 1575 in Yorkshire. His family lineage can be traced back through several generations, indicating a well-established family presence in the region. Another significant figure was George Wraith, a landowner in Lancashire during the early 17th century, who contributed to local agricultural developments.

In the 18th century, the surname Wraith continued to appear in parish records, such as the baptism of Mary Wraith in 1742 in Leeds, Yorkshire. These records reaffirm the persistence of the surname in the northern counties over several centuries.

An important figure in the context of the surname is John Wraith, a prominent merchant in Hull during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Born in 1760, John Wraith was known for his contributions to the local economy and his involvement in civic duties.

By the 19th century, the surname Wraith had diffused more broadly across England. Another notable individual was Ann Wraith, born in 1823, who became associated with the early women's rights movement in Manchester.

The surname Wraith, with its origins deeply entrenched in northern England, represents a lineage linked with Norse heritage and medieval watchfulness. Its presence in historical records, spanning across centuries and regions, highlights the enduring legacy of this unique surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wraith

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

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

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

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