| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Word/name | England |
| Meaning | "wagon builder" |
| Region of origin | England |
| Other names | |
| Variant forms | Wainewright, Wainright, Waynewright, Wainwrigt and Winwright. |
Wainwright is an Anglo-Saxon occupational surname derived from the pre-7th century Old English word waegnwyrhta. The prefix, "waeg(e)n/waen, refers to a vehicle/wagon, common in its time as being horse-driven and four-wheeled. The suffix, wyrhta/wright, refers to a maker/builder. The earliest public record of the name dates to 1237 in Essex. Variations include Wainewright, Wainright, Waynewright, Wainwrigt and Winwright. [1] Notable people with the surname include: