Etymology
English and Scottish occupational surname, from the archaic noun wright (“builder, maker”). Found as the second element of compounds such as Wainwright, Cartwright, etc.
Proper noun
Wright (countable and uncountable, plural Wrights)
- A British surname originating as an occupation from a maker of machinery; found in many combinations such as Cartwright.
- An American surname from French; also a confused anglicization of the French le droit.
- A number of places in the United States:
- A census-designated place in Okaloosa County, Florida.
- An unincorporated community in Mahaska County, Iowa.
- An unincorporated community in Ford County, Kansas.
- A minor city in Carlton County, Minnesota.
- A town in Schoharie County, New York.
- An unincorporated community in Raleigh County, West Virginia.
- A town in Campbell County, Wyoming.
- A number of townships, in Indiana, Iowa (2), Michigan (2), Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and South Dakota.
- A former municipality, now part of Gracefield, Quebec, Canada.
- A suburb of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Statistics
- According to the 2010 United States Census, Wright is the 35th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 458,980 individuals. Wright is most common among White (65.8%) and Black/African American (28.2%) individuals.