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Wigmore Family History

Wigmore Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from Wigmore in Herefordshire so named from Old English wicga in the sense ‘something moving, quaking, unstable ground’.

Wigmore derives its meaning from the combination of these Old English elements, reflecting the characteristics of the local landscape.

The term wicga suggests an element of movement or instability, while mōr refers specifically to marshy or wetland areas.

This name likely indicates the geographical features that were present in the region when it was first settled.

As such, the name Wigmore is a reflection of both the natural environment and the historical context of the area.

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


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Where is the Wigmore family from?

You can see how Wigmore families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wigmore family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Wigmore families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 180 Wigmore families living in London. This was about 20% of all the recorded Wigmore's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Wigmore families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wigmore 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 Wigmore ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bricklayer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Wigmore. 10% of Wigmore men worked as a Bricklayer and 66% of Wigmore women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wigmore were General Labourer and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Wigmore | 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

  • Bricklayer
    10%
  • Gardener
    8%
  • Carpenter
    6%
  • General Labourer
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Housekeeper
    2%

What Wigmore family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 23,000 census records available for the last name Wigmore. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wigmore census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wigmore

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Wigmore. 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 Wigmore immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Wigmore military records

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What is the average Wigmore lifespan?

Between 1958 and 2004, in the United States, Wigmore life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Wigmore in 1958 was 55, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wigmore

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wigmore 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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