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Wainwright Family History

Wainwright Surname Meaning

English (Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cheshire): occupational name for a maker of carts or wagons from Middle English wain-wright ‘wagon-builder, cart-maker’.

It is derived from the Old English term wægn-wyrhta.

This term specifically refers to an individual skilled in the construction and repair of wheeled vehicles.

The name reflects the significance of transportation and trade in historical communities.

As such, it highlights the craftsmanship and importance of wagon builders in past societies.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Wainwright family from?

You can see how Wainwright families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wainwright family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wainwright families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 2,008 Wainwright families living in Yorkshire. This was about 31% of all the recorded Wainwright's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Wainwright families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wainwright 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 Wainwright ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Wainwright. 9% of Wainwright men worked as a General Labourer and 69% of Wainwright women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wainwright were Incapacitated and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Wainwright | 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

  • General Labourer
    9%
  • Retired
    3%
  • Colliery Hewer
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Private Means
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Wainwright family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 134,000 census records available for the last name Wainwright. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wainwright census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wainwright

Passenger Lists

There are 15,000 immigration records available for the last name Wainwright. 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 Wainwright immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 14,000 military records available for the last name Wainwright. For the veterans among your Wainwright ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wainwright military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wainwright family history

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What is the average Wainwright lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Wainwright life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1957, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Wainwright in 1941 was 34, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wainwright

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wainwright 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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