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

Wilkison, 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 Wilkison surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wilkison in America

Wilkison is the 24629th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wilkison surname appeared 1,014 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 Wilkison.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wilkison 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 Wilkison

The surname Wilkison is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English period, which dates back prior to the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name is primarily found in England, particularly in the northern counties such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. The surname originates from the given name Wilkin, itself a diminutive form of the personal name William, which was introduced to England by the Normans and became very popular in the Middle Ages. William comes from the Old Germanic elements 'wil', meaning desire or will, and 'helm', meaning helmet or protection.

The suffix 'son' simply signifies 'son of', indicating that Wilkison means 'son of Wilkin'. Historical records show variations in the spelling of the name, including Wilkins, Wilkinson, and Wilkenson, among others. Early recorded references to the name appear in medieval manuscripts and parish registers, reflecting its widespread use over several centuries. A notable early instance is found in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, which lists a Thomas Wilkynson.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Wilkison in North America was John Wilkison, who arrived in Virginia in 1670. His descendants spread across the American colonies, contributing to the name's proliferation. In England, Robert Wilkison, who lived in the late 14th century, is another early recorded individual who likely hailed from the northern counties where the name was common.

Noteworthy figures with this surname include James P. Wilkison, an English soldier who fought in the Napoleonic Wars, born in 1772 and died in 1821. Another historical figure was Henry Wilkison, a prominent English merchant and member of the London Guilds in the mid-18th century. Reverend Samuel Wilkison, born in 1801, was a notable cleric who contributed to religious education reforms in Victorian England.

In the arts, Eliza Wilkison (1820-1888) gained recognition as an English poet whose works were widely published and appreciated in the 19th century. Her poetry often reflected themes of nature and human experience, earning her a respected place in Victorian literary circles.

Throughout history, the surname Wilkison has appeared in legal documents, tax rolls, and church registers, indicating its longstanding presence and the significant roles its bearers played in their communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wilkison

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

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 Wilkison 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 Wilkison 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 Wilkison was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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