UK surname
An English surname derived from wagon-maker or wagon-wright.
In the 1881 census there were 143 people recorded with the Wainright surname, ranking it #15,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 25, ranked #36,324, down from #15,955 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Duffield and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wainright is 429 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 82.5%.
1881 census count
143
Ranked #15,955
Modern count
25
2016, ranked #36,324
Peak year
1851
429 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wainright surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wainright surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 429 | #5,706 |
| 1861 | historical | 361 | #7,076 |
| 1881 | historical | 143 | #15,955 |
| 1891 | historical | 224 | #13,760 |
| 1901 | historical | 156 | #17,638 |
| 1911 | historical | 131 | #19,404 |
| 1997 | modern | 20 | #35,809 |
| 1998 | modern | 21 | #35,788 |
| 1999 | modern | 24 | #35,514 |
| 2000 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2001 | modern | 12 | #36,612 |
| 2002 | modern | 18 | #36,067 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 18 | #36,245 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 20 | #36,254 |
| 2007 | modern | 26 | #35,932 |
| 2008 | modern | 25 | #36,072 |
| 2009 | modern | 26 | #36,111 |
| 2010 | modern | 28 | #36,084 |
| 2011 | modern | 27 | #36,136 |
| 2012 | modern | 25 | #36,227 |
| 2013 | modern | 26 | #36,217 |
| 2014 | modern | 27 | #36,180 |
| 2015 | modern | 25 | #36,297 |
| 2016 | modern | 25 | #36,324 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Duffield, Toxteth Park, Manchester and Ardsley, West. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prestbury | Cheshire |
| 2 | Duffield | Derbyshire |
| 3 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Ardsley, West | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wainright surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wainright, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Wainright surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wainright household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Wainright is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wainright is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wainright, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Wainright originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words 'wægn' meaning a wagon or cart, and 'riht' meaning wright or maker. Thus, the name refers to a person who constructed or repaired wagons and carts.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname Wainright can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1176, where one Robertus le Wainwright is mentioned. This provides evidence that the name was in use by the late 12th century.
During the 13th century, the surname appears in various historical records across different counties in England. In the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, a William le Waynwrith is listed. Similarly, in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, a John le Weynwright is recorded.
The Wainright surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, although it is spelled differently, appearing as 'Wainerict' or 'Waineright'. This early record suggests that the name may have existed even before the Norman Conquest of 1066.
Over time, the spelling of the surname evolved, with variations such as Wainwright, Waynwright, and Waynewright appearing in various historical documents. Some notable individuals with this surname include:
1. Thomas Wainwright (c. 1460-1522), an English merchant and member of the Company of Merchant Adventurers in York. 2. Francis Wainwright (1508-1592), an English clergyman and academic, who served as the President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. 3. John Wainwright (1737-1806), a British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. 4. Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright (1883-1953), a highly decorated American military officer who received the Medal of Honor for his service in World War II. 5. Loudon Wainwright III (born 1946), an American songwriter, folk singer, humorist, and actor.
The Wainright surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Wainwright Bridge in Lincolnshire and Wainwright Hill in Derbyshire, further reinforcing its long-standing presence in the country's history and geography.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wainright surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 38 Wainrights recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.77x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 38 | 2.77x |
| Staffordshire | 30 | 6.42x |
| Lancashire | 16 | 0.97x |
| Middlesex | 12 | 0.87x |
| Cheshire | 11 | 3.60x |
| Derbyshire | 9 | 4.15x |
| Cumberland | 7 | 5.87x |
| Devon | 5 | 1.73x |
| Flintshire | 4 | 10.74x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 0.90x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 1.11x |
| Dorset | 1 | 1.10x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.24x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.65x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 0.77x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.29x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 0.82x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Poynton in Cheshire leads with 11 Wainrights recorded in 1881 and an index of 1067.96x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wainright surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wainright surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Wainright households.
FAQ
In 1881, 143 people were recorded with the Wainright surname. That placed it at #15,955 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 25 in 2016. That gives Wainright a modern rank of #36,324.
An English surname derived from wagon-maker or wagon-wright.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wainright bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.