Show ContentsWright History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Wright Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Wright

What does the name Wright mean?

From the Boernician clans of the ancient Scottish-English border region comes the name Wright. It is a name for a carpenter. The surname Wright is a derivative of the Old English word wyrhta, which means a worker or, in specific, a woodworker, carpenter, craftsmen of watermills or windmills. In medieval rolls, the name was often Latinized as Faber. 1

Early Origins of the Wright family

The surname Wright was first found in Berwickshire an ancient county of Scotland, presently part of the Scottish Borders Council Area, located in the eastern part of the Borders Region of Scotland, where the Wright family held a seat from ancient times.

Some of the earliest records include Rauf le Wrighte, burgess of Stirling, and Thomas le Whright of Blakenhall in Lanarkshire, who rendered homage to King Edward I of England in 1296, on his brief conquest of Scotland. Richard Wricht or Richard dictus Wright was listed in Aberdeen in 1342 and Malcolm Vrycht was a charter witness there in 1362. In the same year, Robert Wryhyt, a carpenter of Berwick, was employed on the roof of the chapel and hall called "la Blakhalle" of the Castle of Berwick. Richard Wryth was perpetual chaplain of St. Clement the Martyr in Dundee in 1427. 2

Early History of the Wright family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wright research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1342, 1398, 1462, 1492, 1734, 1795, 1797, 1852 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Wright History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wright Spelling Variations

Spelling rules only evolved in the last few centuries with the invention of the printing press and the first dictionaries. Spelling variations are extremely common in names from before that period. Wright has been spelled Wright, Right, Write, Wrighte and others.

Early Notables of the Wright family

  • Joseph Wright (1734-1797), a well-known genre and portrait painter from Derby, England, and Fanny Wright (1795-1852), a Scottish abolitionist, social activist, and author

Wright World Ranking

the United States, the name Wright is the 31st most popular surname with an estimated 470,043 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Wright is ranked the 53rd most popular surname with an estimated 37,603 people with that name. 4 And in France, the name Wright is the 7,489th popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 5 Australia ranks Wright as 24th with 51,694 people. 6 New Zealand ranks Wright as 57th with 5,096 people. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Wright as 12nd with 137,986 people. 8 South Africa ranks Wright as 691st with 9,780 people. 9

Migration of the Wright family to Ireland

Some of the Wright family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 89 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wright migration to the United States +

After making their great crossing, many Boernician-Scottish families settled along the east coast of North America. When the War of Independence broke out, United Empire Loyalists moved north to Canada while the rest stayed to fight. The ancestors of many of these Scots still populate the continent. This century, through Clan societies and other Scottish organizations, they began to rediscover their collective national heritage. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Wright or a variant listed above:

Wright Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Robart Wright, aged 45, who arrived in Virginia in 1608 aboard the ship "Swan" 11
  • Mr. William Wright, from Worcestershire, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 aboard the ship "Fortune" 11
  • Robert Wright, who settled in Virginia in 1623 with his wife
  • Horten Wright, aged 20,who arrived in Virginia sometime between 1624-1625 aboard the ship "Susan" 12
  • Henry Wright, who arrived in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1635 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Wright Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Dionisius Wright, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 12
  • George Wright, who arrived in Leeward Islands in 1705 12
  • John Wright, who immigrated Georgia in 1732
  • Archibald Wright, who arrived in Georgia in 1744 12
  • Andrew Wright, aged 20, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1774 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Wright Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Benjamin Wright, who landed in America in 1806 12
  • Catherine Wright, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 12
  • Hanse Wright, aged 40, who landed in Tennessee in 1812 12
  • Absolom Wright, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1820 12
  • Daniel Wright, who landed in New York in 1836 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Wright migration to Canada +

Wright Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • John Wright, who settled in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1730 13
  • Mr. Asahel Wright U.E. (b. 1754) born in Mansfield, Connecticut, USA who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1777 then relocated to August, Ontario married to Eva Haynes, he died in 1813 14
  • Mr. Ebenezer Wright U.E. (b. 1727) born in Windham, Connecticut, USA who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1777 married to Mercy Leach in 1751, he died in 1809 14
  • Mrs. Ann Wright U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 14
  • Mr. Elias Wright U.E. (b. 1749) born in New York, USA who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 he died in 1825 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Wright Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Anson Wright, who arrived in Canada in 1830
  • Thomas Wright, aged 21, a shoemaker, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Margaret" from London, England
  • Frank Wright, aged 25, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Maria" from Cork, Ireland
  • Mr. David Wright, aged 22 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "John Bolton" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 15
  • Ms. Ellen Wright, aged 26 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Larch" departing from the port of Sligo, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Wright migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
  • Mr. Thomas Wright, (1747 - 1790), aged 42, British settler convicted at Derbyshire, England in 1788, sentenced to Life for stealing a horse, transported aboard the ship "Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 10
  • Mr. David Wright, British settler convicted at Hertfordshire, England in 1787, sentenced to 14 years for breaking and entering, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 11
  • Mr. Joseph Wright, (d. 1790), British settler convicted at Lancaster, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790, may have died on the ship 11
  • Mr. John Wright, British settler convicted at Cheshire, England in 1787, sentenced to Life for theft, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 11
  • Mr. John Wright, British settler convicted at Middlesex, England in 1786, sentenced to Life for stealing a horse, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 11
Second Fleet
  • Mr. Aaron Wright, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Admiral Barrington" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
  • Mr. Charles Wright, (1761 - 1842), aged 29, British settler convicted in Yorkshire, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for robbery, transported aboard the ship "HMS Gorgon" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
  • Mr. James Wright, (d. 1791), British settler convicted in Norfolk, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for breaking and entry, transported aboard the ship "Albermarle" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
  • Mr. Samuel Wright, British settler convicted in London, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Salamander" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
  • Mr. William Wright, British settler convicted in Cheshire, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Admiral Barrington" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
Third Fleet
  • Mr. Thomas Wright, (b. 1764), aged 23, English labourer convicted in Reading, Berkshire on 28th February 1785, sentenced for 7 years for stealing animals, transported aboard the ship "Alexander" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788, died shortly after arriving 11
  • Mr. Benjamin Wright, (b. 1769), aged 18, English settler convicted in London on 26th May 1784, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Scarborough" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 11
  • Mr. Joseph Wright, (b. 1765), aged 22, English settler convicted in London on 26th May 1784, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Scarborough" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 11
  • Mr. William Wright, (b. 1759), aged 28, English settler convicted in London on 15th September 1784, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Scarborough" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 11
  • Mr. James Wright, (b. 1762), aged 25, English settler convicted in Maidstone, Kent on 11th August 1783, sentenced for 7 years for highway robbery, transported aboard the ship "Scarborough" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 11
Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Wright Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Wright Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
Wright Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century
  • "Mrs. Frances Wright, (b. 1787), aged 41, English cook who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ""Competitor"" on 9th June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, listed as having 8 children" 22

Wright migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Wright Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Wright, (b. 1817), aged 23, British agricultural labourer travelling from England aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th November 1840 23
  • Mrs. Hannah Wright, (b. 1821), aged 19, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th November 1840 23
  • Miss Wright, (b. 1839), aged 1 year 6 months, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th November 1840 23
  • James Wright, aged 23, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgeway" in 1840
  • Hannah Wright, aged 19, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgeway" in 1840
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Wright migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 24
Wright Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Lubas Wright, (b. 1619), aged 16, British settler travelling aboard the ship "The Dorset" arriving in Barbados in September 1635 25

Contemporary Notables of the name Wright (post 1700) +

  • Gladys Stone Wright (1925-2025), American multiple award winning band director, one of the first woman band directors in the United States, first woman to be inducted into the National Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band Conductors
  • Stephen Thomas Wright (1942-2025), American professional football player, offensive tackle for five teams in the National Football League (1964-1972), played for the Chicago Fire of the WFL in 1974
  • Evan Alan Wright (1964-2024), American writer, known for his extensive reporting on subcultures for Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair, two-time National Magazine Award winner
  • Gary Malcolm Wright (1943-2023), American musician and composer from Cresskill, New Jersey, best known for his 1976 hit songs "Dream Weaver" and "Love Is Alive"
  • Douglas S. Wright (1948-2023), American attorney and politician, Mayor of Topeka, Kansas from 1983 to 1989
  • John Wright (1943-2023), American two-time Academy Award nominated film editor, best known for his work on The Hunt for Red October (1990) and Speed (1994)
  • Eric Lloyd Wright (1929-2023), American architect, son of Frank Lloyd Wright Jr. and the grandson of the famed Frank Lloyd Wright
  • James Wright (1939-2022), American writer and academic, President of Dartmouth College and the Eleazar Wheelock Professor of History at Dartmouth
  • Bernard Wright (1963-2022), American funk and jazz keyboardist and singer who began his career as a session musician and later released four solo albums
  • ... (Another 86 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Arrow Air Flight 1285
  • Mr. John R Wright (1962-1985), American Specialist 4th Class from Daleville, Alabama, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 26
  • Adrian Mark Wright (1974-1985), from Bradford 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
  • George Wright (1916-1943), Australian Private who died aboard the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
  • Mr. Alfred Wright (d. 1914), British Assistant Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 27
  • Mrs. Susan A  Wright (1860-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 28
  • ... (Another 45 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Wright Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Meritez
Motto Translation: Deserve.

Suggested Readings for the name Wright +

  • Wright's 400 Years-Plus: 13 Generation Family by Larry C. Wright.
  • Ancestry of William Henry Wright and Wife Poll Ann Royal and Their Descendants by Watie Delfa Wright Ellis.
  • Captain William Upshaw, Gent., Planter of Virginia by Sophie W. Upshaw.
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  5. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  6. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  7. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  8. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  9. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  10. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  11. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  12. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  13. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  14. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  15. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 60)
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  20. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
  22. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
  23. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  24. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  25. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  26. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
  27. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  28. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance

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