Wilkinson
Derived from a patronymic name meaning "son of Wilkin," a diminutive of William, which means "resolute protection."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 62,450 Americans carry the last name Wilkinson. That puts it at #634 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 18.22 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 5,488 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wilkinson surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
62K
1 in 5,488
Census rank
#634
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
18.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
54K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 53,739 bearers of the surname Wilkinson in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 18.22 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 634th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wilkinson, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.2%. The next largest groups are Black (6.5%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Wilkinson
The surname Wilkinson originated in England, with its roots dating back to the late 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "Wil" and "cyn," which together translate to "the son of William." It was initially a patronymic surname, identifying individuals as the descendants of someone named William.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Wilkinson surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a person named William Wilkinson is mentioned. Over the following centuries, the name spread across various regions of England, particularly in areas like Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Northumberland.
The Wilkinson surname appears in several historical records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists individuals with similar spellings like "Wilchineson" and "Wilchenson." Other early references can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where the name is spelled "Wylkynson."
Notable individuals bearing the Wilkinson surname throughout history include Sir John Wilkinson (1585-1649), a prominent English politician and lawyer who served as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the English Civil War. Another famous Wilkinson was John Wilkinson (1728-1808), an English ironmaster and pioneer in the industrial revolution, credited with developing the first cast iron bridge in Shropshire.
Reverend John Wilkinson (1728-1808) was an English clergyman and academic who served as the headmaster of Maidstone Grammar School in Kent. In the field of literature, Tate Wilkinson (1739-1803) was an English actor and theatre manager who established the Theatre Royal in York.
Geoffrey Wilkinson (1921-1996) was a renowned English chemist who made significant contributions to the field of organometallic chemistry and received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1973 for his work on chemical bonding.
The Wilkinson surname has a rich history deeply rooted in England, with its patronymic origins reflecting the influence of the name William. From early records to prominent figures across various fields, the name has left an indelible mark on British history and society.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wilkinson
Among Census respondents with the surname Wilkinson, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.2%. The next largest groups are Black (6.5%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Wilkinson bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Wilkinson surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.2%
- Black or African American6.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.4%
- Two or more races1.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Wilkinson surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #576 | #634 | -10.1% |
| Count | 52,483 | 53,739 | 2.4% |
| Per 100K | 19.46 | 18.22 | -6.4% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Wilkinson bearers went from 52,483 to 53,739 (+2.4% change). The surname moved down 58 positions in the national ranking, going from #576 to #634.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Wilkinson
FAQ
Wilkinson surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Wilkinson?
The surname Wilkinson holds position #634 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 62,450 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 18.22 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Wilkinson surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wilkinson, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.2%. The next largest groups are Black (6.5%) and Hispanic (2.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.