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Wheelwright Family History

Wheelwright Surname Meaning

English (Yorkshire): occupational name from Middle English whelewright(e) whelrihte ‘wheelwright maker of wheels and wheeled vehicles’

(Old English hwēol + wyrhta).

See also Wheeler.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Wheelwright family from?

You can see how Wheelwright families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wheelwright family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wheelwright families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 199 Wheelwright families living in Yorkshire. This was about 44% of all the recorded Wheelwright's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Wheelwright families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wheelwright 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 Wheelwright ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Cotton Weaver and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Wheelwright. 12% of Wheelwright men worked as a Cotton Weaver and 80% of Wheelwright women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wheelwright were Capstan Lathe Hand and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Wheelwright | 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

  • Cotton Weaver
    12%
  • Dairy Farmer
    12%
  • Carpenter
    12%
  • Capstan Lathe Hand
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    80%
  • Domestic Duties
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%

What Wheelwright family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 14,000 census records available for the last name Wheelwright. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wheelwright census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wheelwright

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Wheelwright. 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 Wheelwright immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Wheelwright. For the veterans among your Wheelwright ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wheelwright military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wheelwright family history

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What is the average Wheelwright lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Wheelwright life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1976, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Wheelwright in 1960 was 64, and 92 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wheelwright

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wheelwright 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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