The "Wright" surname

The most commonly accepted etymology of the Wright surname is the derivation from the artisan trade of a joiner or carpenter, essentially a worker in wood. In recent years the term "Wright" has been extended to be someone who "works with" other materials.

I myself used this concept to build the name Datawright for my computer business only to find several years later that two other individuals had made the same connection. And at least one of those was not pre-disposed to the name by having Wright as their own surname.

Older and established extensions of the surname that indicate this original root are the trades, and in some cases surnames, of Cartwright, Shipwright, Wheelwright and Arkwright, all of which were woodworking trades.

There is also a branch that places their origins with a Norman Knight that came to England with William the Conqueror. The website of Mary Green Manor tells this story. The Normans are credited with bringing to Britain the concept of Family names or Surnames generally supporting hereditary ownership of property and land.

There would appear to be several regional sources within the British Isles from whence families of Wrights descended. Two major areas are Lincolnshire & Berwick upon Tweed. A web resource at www.cproots.com gives more details on these.

My own family tree traces back to Lincolnshire and co-incidentally my most remote Wright ancestor to date was a joiner by trade.

I have traced another Wright family tree back to 1650 in Bamburgh,  in the North of Northumberland and that family is most likely rooted in the Berwick Wrights, being so close geographically. And the earliest "Wright" that I found in this tree was called Adam!

I would be glad to hear from any experts in this field to confirm, correct or add to this origins page.

David.