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Wigglesworth Family History

Wigglesworth Surname Meaning

English (Yorkshire): habitational name from Wigglesworth in North Yorkshire recorded in Domesday Book as Winchelesuuorde.

It is derived from the genitive case of the Old English byname Wincel meaning ‘child’.

Additionally, it incorporates Old English worth which translates to ‘enclosure’.

The name reflects the historical and linguistic evolution of place names in the region.

This etymology provides insight into the cultural and social aspects of life in medieval Yorkshire.

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


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Where is the Wigglesworth family from?

You can see how Wigglesworth families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wigglesworth family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wigglesworth families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 1,249 Wigglesworth families living in Yorkshire. This was about 70% of all the recorded Wigglesworth's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Wigglesworth families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wigglesworth 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 Wigglesworth 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 Wigglesworth. 15% of Wigglesworth men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Wigglesworth women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wigglesworth were Plumber and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Wigglesworth | 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
    15%
  • Insurance Agent
    6%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%
  • Plumber
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Cotton Weaver
    4%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%

What Wigglesworth family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 34,000 census records available for the last name Wigglesworth. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wigglesworth census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wigglesworth

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Wigglesworth. For the veterans among your Wigglesworth ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wigglesworth military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wigglesworth family history

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What is the average Wigglesworth lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Wigglesworth life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1980. The average life expectancy for Wigglesworth in 1955 was 41, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wigglesworth

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wigglesworth 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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