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Wigby Family History

Wigby Surname Meaning

Probably an altered form of Whitby with substitution of /k/ for /t/ and later voicing of /k/ to /g/. Compare Robert Wickby 1605 Robert Whitby 1608 in IGI (each recorded as a parent in Saint Michael at Plea Norwich Norfolk).

And compare Robert Whitby 1715 in IGI (Saint Nicholas Liverpool Lancs) and Sarah Whitby 1787 in IGI (Hornchurch Essex) with the early bearers cited below.

Source: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain, 2021


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Where is the Wigby family from?

You can see how Wigby families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wigby family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1880 and 1920. The most Wigby families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 28 Wigby families living in Norfolk. This was about 67% of all the recorded Wigby's in United Kingdom. Norfolk had the highest population of Wigby families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wigby surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Wigby ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farm Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Wigby. 72% of Wigby men worked as a Farm Labourer and 79% of Wigby women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wigby were Cowman and Household Duties.

View Census Data for Wigby | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Farm Labourer
    72%
  • Cowman
    29%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    79%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dut
    11%
  • Household Duties
    11%

What Wigby family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Wigby. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wigby census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wigby

Passenger Lists

There are 91 immigration records available for the last name Wigby. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Wigby immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 54 military records available for the last name Wigby. For the veterans among your Wigby ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wigby military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wigby family history

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What is the average Wigby lifespan?

Between 1962 and 1999, in the United States, Wigby life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1982, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Wigby in 1962 was 55, and 88 in 1999.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wigby

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wigby ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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