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

Wright, 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 Wright surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wright in America

Wright is the 151532nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wright surname appeared 108 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 Wright.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wright 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 Wright

The surname Wrigth has its origins in England, deriving from the Old English word "wryhta" or "wyrhta," meaning a worker or craftsman, particularly one involved in woodwork and carpentry. The name was geographically concentrated in various parts of England during the early medieval period, with notable density in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Spelling variations over time include Wryghte, Wrete, and Wrighte.

Historical references of the surname Wrigth trace back to medieval England. Its similarity to the more common Wright may have led to conflations in historical records, but distinct mentions are invaluable. One of the earliest documented occurrences of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1196. Notably, a Richard Wryth is recorded in the Calendar of Patent Rolls during the reign of King Henry III in 1256. This indicates the surname's use among various social strata from an early period.

Several notable individuals with the Wrigth surname mark the family's presence in historical records. John Wrigth, born circa 1450, was a known yeoman in Yorkshire and is mentioned in tax records from 1470. Another significant figure is Alice Wrigth, who appears in Lichfield Diocese wills from 1524, highlighting the surname’s endurance. The Muster Rolls from 1525 include a Thomas Wrigth of Norfolk, indicating military serviceability.

Elizabeth Wrigth, born in the late 1500s, is among the textile merchants listed in Southampton's wool trade records circa 1620, indicating a diversification from purely woodwork-related occupations. Sir Robert Wrigth, a notable figure born in 1640, became a respected judge and is recorded in various legal documents of the time, further validating the name's reach across professions.

Various place names also bear the mark of the Wrigth surname through reverberations in local lore and historical registers, particularly in regions where the surname was prevalent. These references serve as enduring legacies of the surname's cultural and professional impact across England over the centuries. The lineage and documentation of notable individuals such as Richard, John, Alice, Thomas, Elizabeth, and Sir Robert Wrigth underscore the evolution and persistence of the name through history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wright

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

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

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

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