| ![Show Contents]() Wedgeworth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England The present generation of the Wedgeworth family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in Wedgwood, a township in Staffordshire. The place-name Wedgwood is derived from the Old English elements wæthe, whcih means marsh or fen, and wuda, which means wood. The place-name taken as a whole means "place at the marshy wood." The township no longer exists. Early Origins of the Wedgeworth familyThe surname Wedgeworth was first found in Staffordshire at Wedgwood, a township, in the parish of Wolstanton, union of Wolstanton and Burslem, N. division of the hundred of Pirehill. "This township, which comprises 431 acres of arable land, is supposed to have been originally the residence of the Wedgwood family, several of whom have been eminent for their improvements in the earthenware and porcelain manufacture." 1 Josiah Wedgwood founded the village of Eturia, again in Staffordshire. "The classical name of this place was given to it by its late celebrated founder, Josiah Wedgwood, who established here the well-known Wedgwood-ware potteries, in 1769, and called the village after the seat of the ancient fictile art in Italy, Etruria, where a colony of Phœnician potters settled about 1000 years before the birth of Christ." 1 Wedgwood "erected an entire village for his workmen and dependants, and a mansion on a neighbouring eminence for his own residence." 1 Early History of the Wedgeworth familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wedgeworth research. Another 248 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1470, 1576, 1588, 1612, 1637, 1730 and 1795 are included under the topic Early Wedgeworth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Wedgeworth Spelling VariationsUntil the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Wedgeworth include Wedgewoode, Wedgewood, Wedgewode, Wegewode, Wegewood and many more. Early Notables of the Wedgeworth familyMore information is included under the topic Early Wedgeworth Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Wedgeworth RankingIn the United States, the name Wedgeworth is the 11,283rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2 Migration of the Wedgeworth familyThousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Wedgeworth were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: John Wedgewood who settled in Annapolis Maryland in 1723.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Wedgeworth (post 1700) | + |
- Kelly Wedgeworth (d. 2015), American actress, known for I Killed My BFF, Life at These Speeds (2016) and Get on Up (2014)
- Elizabeth Ann Wedgeworth (1934-2017), American character actress, known for her roles as Lana Shields in Three's Company
- Robert Wedgeworth, American President of ProLiteracy Worldwide (2002-)
- Ray Wedgeworth (1908-1975), American college football, baseball and basketball head coach at Jacksonville State University
- Colby Tyler Wedgeworth (b. 1985), American pop/alternative producer
- Ann Wedgeworth (b. 1934), American award winning actress, known for her roles in Evening Shade (1990), Steel Magnolias (1989) and Scarecrow (1973)
- Elbra Wedgeworth, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Colorado, 2000, 2004 3
| Historic Events for the Wedgeworth family | + |
Bradford City stadium fire - Robert Wedgeworth (1913-1985), from Guiseley who attended the Bradford City and Lincoln City Third Division match on 11th May 1985 when the Bradford City stadium fire occurred and he died in the fire
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