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

Wrenn, 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 Wrenn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wrenn in America

Wrenn is the 6566th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wrenn surname appeared 5,160 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Wrenn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wrenn 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 Wrenn

The surname Wrenn has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "wrenna," which means a small bird, specifically a wren. This suggests that the name may have originally been a nickname given to someone who was considered small or nimble like a wren.

Historically, the name Wrenn can be found in various medieval records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mention a William Wrenne in Oxfordshire. The Pipe Rolls of 1230 also list a Henry Wrenne in Cambridgeshire. These early references provide evidence of the name's existence and its connection to certain regions of England.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 with entries for a John Wrenne in Worcestershire and a Thomas Wrenne in Leicestershire. This indicates the gradual spread of the surname across different counties in England during that period.

One notable figure bearing the surname Wrenn was Christopher Wren (1632-1723), the renowned English architect responsible for designing St. Paul's Cathedral in London after the Great Fire of 1666. He was also a professor of astronomy at Oxford University and a significant figure in the scientific revolution of the 17th century.

Another individual of historical significance was Sir Christopher Wren (1589-1658), the father of the famous architect and a distinguished mathematician and clergyman who served as the Dean of Windsor from 1635 until his death.

In the literary world, Mary Wrenn (1904-1968) was an American author and educator known for her works on English literature, including her book "Beowulf with the Finnesburg Fragment," published in 1953.

Matthew Wren (1585-1667) was an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Ely and played a prominent role in the religious and political conflicts of the 17th century, including his involvement in the trial of Archbishop William Laud.

Matthew Wren (1629-1670), the son of the Bishop of Ely, was a noted English politician and member of parliament during the Commonwealth period, serving as the Secretary of State for the southern department under Charles II.

While the surname Wrenn originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and the colonial expansion of the British Empire. However, its roots can be traced back to the English countryside, where it likely began as a descriptive nickname for someone with wren-like qualities or characteristics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wrenn

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

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

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

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