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

Willam, 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 Willam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Willam in America

Willam is the 110825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Willam surname appeared 159 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 Willam.

We can also compare 2010 data for Willam 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 Willam

The surname Willam has its origins in Europe, with a notable presence in medieval England and France. The name traces back to the Norman Conquest of 1066, when many French and Norman names were introduced to England. The surname is derived from the given name William, which itself originates from the Old High German name Wilhelm, composed of the elements "wil" meaning "will" or "desire", and "helm" meaning "helmet" or "protection".

One of the earliest appearances of the surname in historical records can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The jurisdictional records mentioned various derivations of the name, often reflective of regional dialects and spellings.

In the 13th century, a Willam de Montforte is documented in the Curia Regis Rolls from 1227. This suggests the surname was already in use by families of some standing and may have been tied to particular estates or regions. Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of 1273 mention a John Willam in Norfolk, indicating the name's geographical spread within England by this time.

The name Willam also surfaces in the records of the Hundred Years' War. A notable bearer is Sir Richard Willam, born circa 1310, who fought under King Edward III during the Battle of Crécy in 1346. His contributions were significant enough to secure mention in several chronicles of the period.

In the late medieval period, specifically around the early 1500s, the name is seen again in the form of Thomas Willam, a merchant recorded in the City of London archives. He is noted for his trading ventures with the Hanseatic League, reflecting the commercial expansion and integration of England into broader European trade networks.

By the Elizabethan era, the surname had further diversified. A prominent figure from this period is Robert Willam, born in 1564 and listed in the register of Cambridge University. His academic pursuits and eventual role as a rector in Kent highlight the access to education and clerical positions afforded to individuals bearing the surname.

The surname survives in historical documentation beyond the medieval and Renaissance periods. A later figure of note is Captain James Willam, who served in the Royal Navy during the late 18th century. Born in 1740, his naval career witnessed significant events during the American Revolutionary War, underlining the enduring presence and evolving roles of the Willam family in British history.

These references illustrate the surname's deep roots and varying degrees of prominence in historical records across different regions and time periods. The transition from medieval land records, through military chronicles, to academic registers, showcases the multifaceted legacy of the Willam surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Willam

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

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

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

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