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

Will, 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 Will surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Will in America

Will is the 2869th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Will surname appeared 12,575 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Will.

We can also compare 2010 data for Will 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 Will

The surname WILL is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "willa" meaning "will" or "desire." It is believed to have originated in the early medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century.

In its earliest form, WILL was likely used as a descriptive surname, given to individuals who were known for their strong-willed or determined nature. It may have also been bestowed upon those who displayed a particular skill or talent, reflecting their "will" or ability to accomplish tasks.

The surname WILL can be traced back to various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire, where it was most prevalent in its early history. It is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname WILL is found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from the late 12th century, where a person named Willelmus le Wille is mentioned. This spelling variation, "le Wille," provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname WILL. One prominent example is William Will (1556-1598), an English clergyman and author who wrote a treatise on the Sabbath. Another is John Will (1671-1725), a Scottish theologian and philosopher who served as the Principal of the University of St. Andrews.

In the realm of literature, Dorothy Will (1895-1980) was an American author and playwright known for her works on Native American themes. In the world of sports, Bobby Will (1939-2016) was a professional baseball player who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers in the 1960s.

The name WILL has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Willingham in Cambridgeshire and Willoughby in Lincolnshire, which may have influenced the surname's development and regional distribution.

While the surname WILL has evolved over centuries and spread across different regions, its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "willa," reflecting the strong-willed and determined nature of its early bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Will

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

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

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

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