This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Wigfall family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Wigfall Family History

Wigfall Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from Wigfield (earlier Wigfall) Farm in Worsbrough (Yorkshire) named with the Old English personal name Wicga or Old English wicg ‘horse’.

It also incorporates wigga ‘beetle’ + (ge)fall ‘place where trees have been felled’.

This indicates the geographical and historical significance of the location in relation to its naming.

The combination of words reflects the Old English language's rich descriptive capability.

Such names often reveal the landscape and activities of the people living in these areas during that time.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Wigfall family from?

You can see how Wigfall families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wigfall family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Wigfall families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 81 Wigfall families living in Yorkshire. This was about 56% of all the recorded Wigfall's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Wigfall families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wigfall surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Wigfall ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Metal Worker (heavy W and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Wigfall. 60% of Wigfall men worked as a General Metal Worker (heavy W and 89% of Wigfall women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wigfall were Bricklayer and Domestic Help.

View Census Data for Wigfall | 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 Metal Worker (heavy W
    60%
  • Bricklayer
    40%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    89%
  • Unpaid Dom Du
    6%
  • Domestic Help
    6%

What Wigfall family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Wigfall. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wigfall census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wigfall

Passenger Lists

There are 290 immigration records available for the last name Wigfall. 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 Wigfall immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Wigfall military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wigfall family history

Discover More

What is the average Wigfall lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Wigfall life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1969. The average life expectancy for Wigfall in 1943 was 41, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wigfall

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wigfall 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Wigfall family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial