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

Williams, 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 Williams surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Williams in America

Williams is the 59017th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Williams surname appeared 343 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 Williams.

We can also compare 2010 data for Williams 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 Williams

The surname Willaims has its origins in medieval England, specifically during the Norman Conquest of 1066, when Norman French culture began to intermingle with Anglo-Saxon traditions. The name finds its roots primarily in the regions of Normandy and subsequently spread in England. Originally, the surname Willaims is derived from the Old French name William, which itself comes from the Germanic name Wilhelm, composed of the elements 'wil' meaning desire or will, and 'helm' meaning helmet or protection.

The spelling Willaims appears to be a variation or even a transcription error over time from the more common Williams. Historically, surnames were often recorded as they were spoken or heard, leading to variants in spellings. Documents from the medieval period show various such alterations. The Domesday Book, completed in 1086, lists numerous individuals bearing the name William, though not explicitly Willaims, as the name evolved later with regional spelling differences.

One of the earliest recorded instances of a surname that closely resembles Willaims can be found in parish records from the late 13th century. For example, Henry Willaims is mentioned in records from Norfolk in the year 1286. Another notable mention is Richard Willaims, recorded in London tax documents in the year 1324. These early entries illustrate the gradual establishment of the name in England.

Historical texts also refer to Thomas Willaims, a notable landowner in Cambridge around the early 1400s. His family lineage is well-documented, and records from his estate offer a glimpse into the life of a medieval gentleman. Another influential bearer of the name was John Willaims, a merchant in Yorkshire in the 16th century, whose detailed records from his trade with the Low Countries provide a rich historical context for the family name.

Additionally, in the field of academia, Edward Willaims made substantial contributions to early modern science in the late 1600s, with university records from Oxford showing his extensive involvement in scholarly pursuits between 1675 and 1720. Lastly, Anne Willaims, a notable figure, is documented in the 18th century as a prominent supporter of the burgeoning women’s rights movement in London, her advocacy and writings shedding light on social issues of her time.

These historical references underscore the endurance and variability of the surname Willaims, reflecting its evolution through centuries of English history and its occasional appearance in regions where spelling conventions varied.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Williams

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

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

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

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