Surname Wrights - Meaning and Origin

Wrights: What does the surname Wrights mean?

The last name Wright is of English origin and generally refers to a person who was skilled in an occupation involving metalworking. It can also be a variation of the English word "wright," which means to work or fabricate.

The name is associated with craftsmen who were skilled in wood-working, metalworking, and carpentry. Some of the original jobs associated with the Wright name included wheelwrights, wagon makers, and blacksmiths. In certain instances, the name might be derived from an individual who had a particular interest in a certain profession, such as an armorer (armourwright).

The English Wright surname was first found in early records in various counties of England, such as Lancashire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire. The earliest instance of the name on record dates back to the 13th century. Many of these families moved to America during the 17th century.

The Wright last name holds a long history of skilled craftsmanship. Many of its original holders were tradesmen and artisans of various trades. They developed a legacy of hard-working people, who have been able to thrive in many different walks of life.

Wrights: Where does the name Wrights come from?

The last name Wrights is most common today in English-speaking countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. It is also common in parts of Europe such as Germany, Norway, and Sweden.

In the United States, the last name Wrights is highly concentrated in the states of Tennessee and Texas. In Tennessee, the surname is particularly prominent in the counties of Knox, Shelby, and Washington. In Texas, the last name has its highest concentrations in rural northern counties such as Lamar and Red River. Wrights are also commonly found in the cities of Austin and Houston.

In the UK, the surname Wrights enjoys its highest concentration in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Lancashire. In addition, this last name is frequently found in towns and cities such as Northampton, Norwich, Oldham, and Hartlepool. In other parts of Europe, the surname is especially common in Belgium and the Netherlands.

There are other countries where the surname Wrights may originate, such as Ireland and Scotland, where many immigrants from the British Isles settled in the 1800s. It is also possible that some families of this name trace their roots to Africa, as records suggest that African slaves may have adopted this surname in some cases.

Variations of the surname Wrights

The surname Wrights is an incredibly common and well-recognized last name which has a variety of spelling and surname variations. The most common variant of Wrights is Wright, which is often found as "Wrightson" or "Rightsen." The variation in spelling is usually attributed to an error or mis-translation over the course of time; additionally, some preferred to spell their name differently upon settling in a new country. Additionally, the surname can be seen spelled as "Rits," which can also be attributed to a similar translation error.

Other variations of the name Wrights include "Wryght," "Wreght," "Writs," "Right," "Rahte," "Rait," "Reet," "Ritche," "Rights," "Rikke," "Rykkes," "Riek," "Rightt," and "Ritchers." All of these can be seen as connected to one another, with Wright being the most common baseline that these other variants can be tied back to.

When related to the geographical origin of the surname Wrights, the variants can be seen to be found in the US, UK, France, Germany, Norway, and Sweden. It is likely that the surname made its way throughout Europe as the family name slotted through different societies and continents; as a result, the origins of the name have been dispersed with each geographic region playing a unique role in the growth and development of the Wrights surname.

Famous people with the name Wrights

• Orville Wright: Orville Wright was an American inventor, aviation pioneer, and the co-founder of the Wright Brothers Company. He is best known for inventing, building, and flying the world's first successful motor-operated airplane produced in 1903 with his brother Wilbur Wright.
• Wilbur Wright: Wilbur Wright was an American aviation pioneer who, with his brother Orville, invented and built the world's first successful motorized airplane in 1903. He became famous for creating the first powered, controlled, heavier-than-air machine to achieve controlled, sustained flight and for their contribution to the development of aviation.
• Frank Lloyd Wright: Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, author, and educator, who in the interwar period designed some of the most iconic curated architecture in the United States. He is famous for his design of homes, buildings, and entire communities that accommodate and integrate modern living.
• Steven Wright: Steven Wright is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer and producer. He is best known for his "deadpan" delivery style, monotone and slow speaking voice, and observational comedy.
• Linda Wright: Linda Wright is an American singer and songwriter famous for her 1970s singles, such as her hit single "Cling to Me".
• John Henry Wright: John Henry Wright was an American evangelical preacher and evangelist who created the organization called the "Wright Tabernacle Association," and is credited with evangelizing millions of people throughout the United States.
• Marvin Wright: Marvin Wright is an American former professional basketball player in the NBA who is widely known for his successful NBA career playing with the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980's.
• Joe Wright: Joe Wright is an English film director, producer, and screenwriter who has directed some of the most iconic modern films, such as Pride and Prejudice, Atonement, Anna Karenina and Darkest Hour.
• Mary Wright: Mary Wright was an American environmental activist and eco-feminist. During the late 1970s and early 80s, she was an effective organizer of grassroots environmental campaigns and a champion of citizen’s rights.
• Richard Wright: Richard Wright was an American author of fiction and non-fiction, best known for his iconic novel Native Son. The novel tells the story of an African American man trying to escape the poverty of the South and was especially notable for its frank and honest depiction of racial issues.

Other surnames

WrightWrightson