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Wigston Family History

Wigston Name Meaning

from Wigston Magna (Leics) which is recorded as Wikingeston in 1191 and Wygston in 1457 or Wigston Parva (Leics) which is recorded as Wicgestane in 1004 and Wigeston in 120 Wigston Magna derives from the Old Scandinavian personal name Víkingr (genitive Víkings) + Old English tūn ‘farmstead estate’ with Latin magna ‘great’ to distinguish the place from Wigston Parva. Wigston Parva derives from the Old English personal name Wicga (genitive Wicges) + Old English stān ‘stone’ with Latin parva ‘small’ to distinguish the place from Wigston Magna. For the post-medieval alternation of -ston with -son compare Sibson .

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


Similar surnames: Winston, Wigton, Wilton, Whiston, Kingston, Winton, Hingston, Liston

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Where is the Wigston family from?

You can see how Wigston families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wigston family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1851 and 1920. The most Wigston families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1880 there were 2 Wigston families living in Kansas. This was 100% of all the recorded Wigston's in USA. Kansas had the highest population of Wigston families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wigston 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 Wigston ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Wigston. 89% of Wigston women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. .

View Census Data for Wigston | 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.

England shown, United States data unavailable

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    89%
  • Charwoman
    6%
  • Domestic Servant
    6%
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What Wigston family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Wigston. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wigston census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Wigston

Passenger Lists

There are 379 immigration records available for the last name Wigston. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 194 military records available for the last name Wigston. For the veterans among your Wigston ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Wigston lifespan?

Between 1976 and 2001, in the United States, Wigston life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1976, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Wigston in 1976 was 54, and 92 in 2001.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wigston

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