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

Wrice, 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 Wrice surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wrice in America

Wrice is the 39352nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wrice surname appeared 559 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 Wrice.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wrice 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 Wrice

The surname Wrice is of English origin and can be traced back to medieval England. It is believed to have emerged sometime in the Middle Ages, around the 13th or 14th century. The name likely originated in the regions of Cheshire and Lancashire, where many early instances of the surname have been recorded.

Wrice is thought to be a variant of the surname Rice, which itself is derived from the Old Welsh personal name Rhys. Rhys means "enthusiasm" or "ardor" in Welsh, and was a common given name in Wales. Over time, as families moved and the Welsh language influenced local dialects, spelling variations such as Reece, Rees, and eventually Wrice emerged.

Historical references to the surname Wrice are somewhat sparse, making its traceability more challenging compared to more common surnames. However, it appears in parish records and early tax documents from the 15th and 16th centuries. Early records show a John Wrice in Lancashire in 1523, appearing in the Subsidy Rolls, indicating that the name was established by the early modern period.

Several notable individuals carry the surname Wrice. John Wrice, mentioned previously, marked one of the earliest recorded instances of the name in official documents. Another early mention includes Thomas Wrice, who was a landholder in Chester in 1582, signifying the name's presence in Cheshire.

The surname also appears outside of England, likely due to migration and trade. In the 17th century, a Richard Wrice is documented in Virginia, America, as part of the early colonial settlers. This indicates that the surname had crossed the Atlantic and begun to establish itself in the New World.

Another significant person with the surname was Mary Wrice, born in 1753 in Somerset. She was known for her involvement in local community endeavors and is recorded in church documents for her philanthropic activities in the region. Her records also provide evidence of the surname enduring through the 18th century.

Further afield, the surname appeared in Canada with the arrival of Henry Wrice in Newfoundland in the early 19th century. Henry Wrice, born in 1805, is noted in Newfoundland church records as a fisherman and later a small landowner in the coastal village of Cupids. His presence highlights the continuation and spread of the surname beyond its English origins.

Despite its relative rarity, the surname Wrice has traversed countries and centuries. Its roots in medieval England, linked to the Welsh name Rhys, mark an enduring legacy. The various notables named Wrice through history underscore the persistence of this surname and its modest place within the tapestry of surnames worldwide.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wrice

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

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

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

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