Wright History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Wright family derived their name from the “Anglo-Saxon wyrhta [which] signifies, in its widest sense, the same as the Latin faber, a workman of any kind, but more specifically an artificer in hard materials. The eminent antiquary who bears this surname observes, that “Smith was the general term for a worker in metals, and Wright for one who worked in wood and other materials. Hence in the later English period smith became the peculiar name of a blacksmith, and wright of a carpenter, as it is still in Scotland.” [1]

Early Origins of the Wright family

The surname Wright was first found in Sussex where Patere le Writh was listed in the Feet of Fines for 1214. Years later, the same rolls but in 1255 and this time in Essex, listed Robert le Wrichte in 1255. Richard le Wrete was found in the Assize Rolls for Kent in 1317 and later, Hugh le Wreghte in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327. Thomas le Wrighte was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Derbyshire in 1327 and Walter le Wrytte in the Subsidy Rollsfor Suffolk in 1327. [2]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Robert le Wriete in Cambridgeshire; Roger le Wriete in Cambridgeshire; and Margery le Wrytte in Cambridgeshire. Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Adam Wrygson; Robert Wreghtson; and Johannes Redebarn, wryght. [3]

“This name is distributed over England, but is comparatively infrequent in the counties on the south coast, and in the northern counties north of Yorkshire. It exists in densest numbers in the counties lying between the Wash and the Thames, being especially numerous in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, and also, but to a less extent, in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. In the midlands it is nearly as crowded, and has its chief centres in Warwickshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire, etc. It is also very frequent in Lincolnshire and Cheshire, and is somewhat less numerous in Lancashire and Yorkshire. The Wrights have established themselves in Scotland, though in no great numbers, and not usually north of Perthshire.’ [4]

Early History of the Wright family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wright research.

Wright Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wright, Right, Write, Wrighte and others.

Early Notables of the Wright family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Laurence Wright (1590-1657), an English physician, notably physician in ordinary to Oliver Cromwell and to the Charterhouse; John Wright (fl. 1602-1658), a major London publisher and bookseller, one of the two booksellers who sold Shakespeare’s Sonnets in 1609 a member of the syndicate that printed the Shakespeare First Folio in 1623; Sir Henry Wright, 1st Baronet (c.1637-1664), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons (1660-1664).

Wright World Ranking

In the United States, the name Wright is the 31^st most popular surname with an estimated 470,043 people with that name. [5] However, in Canada, the name Wright is ranked the 53^rdmost popular surname with an estimated 37,603 people with that name. [6] And in France, the name Wright is the 7,489^th popular surname with an estimated 1,000 – 1,500 people with that name. [7] Australia ranks Wright as 24^th with 51,694 people. [8] New Zealand ranks Wright as 57^th with 5,096 people. [9] The United Kingdom ranks Wright as 12^nd with 137,986 people. [10]South Africa ranks Wright as 691^st with 9,780 people. [11]

 Migration of the Wright family to Ireland

Some of the Wright family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Wright migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Wright Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Mr. Robart Wright, aged 45, who arrived in Virginia in 1608 aboard the ship “Swan” [12]
• Mr. William Wright, from Worcestershire, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 aboard the ship “Fortune” [12]
• 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” [13]
• Mr. Richard Wright, (b. 1612), aged 23, British settler traveling aboard the ship “Safety” arriving in Virginia in 1635 [14]4

Wright Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Dionisius Wright, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 [13]
• George Wright, who arrived in Leeward Islands in 1705 [13]
• John Wright, who immigrated Georgia in 1732
• Archibald Wright, who arrived in Georgia in 1744 [13]
• Andrew Wright, aged 20, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1774 [13]

Wright Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Benjamin Wright, who landed in America in 1806 [13]
• Catherine Wright, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 [13]
• Hanse Wright, aged 40, who landed in Tennessee in 1812 [13]
• Absolom Wright, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1820 [13]
• Daniel Wright, who landed in New York in 1836 [13]

 Wright migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Wright Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• John Wright, who settled in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1730 [15]
• 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 [16]
• 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 [16]
• Mrs. Ann Wright U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 [16]
• 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 [16]

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 [17]
• 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 [17]

 Wright migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Wright Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

• Mr. James Wright, English convict who was convicted in Derby, Derbyshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Barwell” in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [18]
• Miss Sarah Wright, (Squires), English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years , transported aboard the “Britannia III” on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [19]

Wright Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. James Wright, British convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the “Calcutta” in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [20]
• Mr. William Wright, British Convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Coromandel” on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [21]
• Mr. William Wright, British Convict who was convicted in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Coromandel” on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [21]
• Thomas Wright, English convict from Dorset, who was transported aboard the “Ann” on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia [22]
• Mr. Thomas Wright, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the “Earl Spencer” in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia[23]

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” [24]

 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

• John Wright, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1840
• Joseph W Wright, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1840
• Charles E Nicol Wright, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
• Daniel Wright, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
• George Wright, who landed in Wanganui, New Zealand in 1840

 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. [25]

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 [26]

Contemporary Notables of the name Wright (post 1700) +

• 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
• Larry Rayfield Wright (1945-2022), American NFL football offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 2006
• Jules Winslow Wright (1933-2022), American businessman and politician, Member of the Alaska House of Representatives (1967-1969)
• John Robert Wright (1936-2022), American Episcopalian priest at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery and a church historian, Professor Emeritus of Ecclesiastical History at the General Theological Seminary in New York City
• William Joseph Wright (1952-2021), American eighth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle in Australia