Surname Wedgewood - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wedgewood: What does the surname Wedgewood mean?
The last name Wedgewood is derived from the English surname Wedgwood which is derived from the Old English name Wēduuard. Wedgwood is an occupational surname, given to a person who worked in a wood or a wood-related profession. It may have been derived from the old English 'wēda' meaning a wood and 'wyrd' meaning a worker.
Wedgwood is the most common spelling of the name and is seen in English, French, Dutch, German, and Scandinavian countries. Variations of the surname include Wedgwood, Wedgewood, Wedgiwood, Wedgeworth, Wedgewod, Wedgeswood, Wedgesword, Wedgewode, Wedgework, and Wedgear.
During the Middle Ages the Wedgewood family was involved in trades such as brickmaking, carpentry, and even farming. In 1650 John Wedgewood founded the first Wedgewood pottery in England. The Wedgewood family became the leading English pottery manufacturer through the 18th and 19th centuries.
Today many Wedgewoods still work in the wood and pottery industries. Other Wedgewoods have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs, politicians, and academics.
Overall, the surname Wedgewood indicates the family’s long-standing legacy within the wood and pottery industries. It is still seen as a mark of quality and excellence even in modern times.
Order DNA origin analysisWedgewood: Where does the name Wedgewood come from?
The Wedgwood name is most common today in the United Kingdom. Wedgwood pottery was first produced in the 1700s in Stoke-On-Trent, England, and the Wedgwood company is still based in the city today. Wedgwood pottery is still widely collected and admired for its beautiful craftsmanship, and the Wedgewood name remains associated ever since with producing quality service and products.
The surname Wedgewood also has a long history of being popular in England, and today it is a commonly seen last name in the British Isles. It is thought that the Wedgewood surname first originated in the northwest or southeast of England, due to its strong association with the production of pottery. The Wedgewood surname is also seen in some parts of North America, specifically the United States and Canada, where it has been carried over from immigrants who settled there from the British Isles.
For those looking to trace their Wedgewood family heritage, the FamilySearch website is a great free resource where you can find a listing of the most common Wedgewood surnames and their locations. The ancestry.com database is another reliable source of Wedgewood family information and provides records from both the U.K. and U.S.A.
In conclusion, the Wedgewood name is still common today in the U.K., and has been carried over to North America due to immigration. These days, research into the Wedgewood surname is made easier and more accessible due to online resources such as FamilySearch and ancestry.com.
Variations of the surname Wedgewood
The surname Wedgewood has many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. It is derived from an Old English personal name Wudugyd, which meant “woody wood”. Variants of the surname include Wedgwood, Wedgworth, Wedgewert, Wedgeworth, Wedgeword, and Wedgewarde. Other spellings include Weadagoth, Wadegewerth, Waddeworth, Weedagood, Wedgeword, Wuduggoth, Wedgwoode, and Wedgewerth.
Surnames of the same origin include Wedge, Wedgewoode, Weadgewood, Wedgworth, Wedgiwood, Weedowood, Weedogood, Wedgowood, Wedgiworth, Wedgwood, and Wedgwoode. Other related surnames include Wadsworth, Woodsworth, Wodsworth, Woodworth, Wadeworth, Wadgworth, and Woodgworth.
Wedgewood is also a variation of other surnames, such as Wedd, Weddell, Weddel, and Weddell, which all have different meanings, origins, and spellings. Wedd and Weddell come from the Middle English word "wedden", which means “to pledge” or “to wager”. Weddel may be derived from a place name in Northumberland, England, or from the Middle English word “wedden”. Weddell may be derived from an Old English word which means “wealthy stream”, or from the Old English phrase "weorth ella", which means “a spring that yields”.
Regardless of the spelling and surname, the origin of the Wedgewood name is derived from the same Old English personal name. It has been changed and adapted over the years, resulting in many different variants and spellings.
Famous people with the name Wedgewood
- Josiah Wedgwood: Josiah Wedgwood was born in 1730 and was a renowned English potter and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the fathers of modern marketing and the industrial revolution. He was widely respected for his innovative pieces of pottery including creamware and jasperware which are still popular today. He was made an honorary freeman of the city of Burslem for his achievements.
- Michael Wedgwood: Michael Wedgwood is an English geologist and an emeritus professor of structural geology at the University of Aberdeen. He has conducted multiple studies on Alpine and Scandinavian mountain chains to develop a better geological understanding of them and also has worked on faulting and fracture processes, glacier development, tectonic processes, and regional stratigraphical correlations.
- Rachel Wedgwood: Rachel Wedgwood is a British international lawyer, author, and policy advisor. She is a specialist in public international law, in conflict prevention, justice initiatives, and the ethics of international relations. She is a visiting professor at the University of New South Wales and has also consulted for multiple governmental and intergovernmental organizations on issues such as refugee policy, preventing terrorism, and nuclear security.
- Terrance Wedgwood: Terrance Wedgwood is an English music composer and conductor. He is best known for arranging the music of Nintendo's video game series,including Mario, Animal Crossing, and The Legend of Zelda. He has also written music for TV shows, movies, and commercials.
- Denby Wedgwood: Denby Wedgwood is an English sculptor, best known for his large-scale figurative sculptures. He is the third generation of his family to create works by hand, and has showcased his works in numerous galleries and exhibitions worldwide. His sculptures focus on themes of nature, human connection, and mystery.