Find out how popular the last name Wilby is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Wilby.

Wilby, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Wilby surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wilby in America

Wilby is the 63068th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wilby surname appeared 317 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Wilby.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wilby to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Wilby

The surname Wilby traces its origins back to England, with its roots likely planted during the medieval period. The name is believed to be topographical, derived from the Old English words "wilig," meaning willow, and "by," meaning settlement or farmstead. Thus, Wilby essentially translates to a willow farm or settlement.

Wilby is primarily associated with certain areas in England such as Norfolk and Suffolk, counties known for places named Wilby. Historical references note the name in various medieval records, which underline its prevalence in these regions. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced to the Domesday Book of 1086, where places like Wilbia and Willebia are mentioned. These entries are some of the oldest known spellings of the name, signifying settlements that were named for the willow trees abundant in those areas.

In the centuries following the Domesday Book, the surname began to appear more frequently in various legal and clerical documents. Richard de Wilby, who lived during the 13th century, is one notable figure who bore the name. Records from the early 1300s note a Thomas Wilby active in Lincolnshire. This Thomas Wilby is often cited as one of the prominent individuals of his time, contributing to the recorded frequency of the name in that century.

Advancing into the 16th century, Robert Wilby is noted for his activities in the region of Suffolk. Born around 1520, Robert Wilby was a landowner whose dealings were documented in property records of the era. His activities provide an insight into the economical landscape of the period and the usage of surnames as markers of familial wealth and property.

The 17th century saw Martha Wilby, born in 1635, who became a well-known figure in Norfolk. Her life encompassed the social and cultural shifts occurring during the English Civil War and Interregnum. Her name appears in various church and parish records, offering a glimpse into the everyday lives and societal structure of her time.

Another individual of note was William Wilby, an 18th-century figure born in 1740. William was a merchant whose name appeared in trade and maritime records, reflecting the growing economic activities of the period and the role that English surnames played in documenting commerce and trade.

These historical figures illustrate the spread and adaptation of the Wilby surname over the centuries. The name Wilby continues to hold historical significance, rooted deeply in England's linguistic and cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wilby

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Wilby.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Wilby was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Wilby has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Wilby was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Wilby, please contact us.

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