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

Willars, 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 Willars surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Willars in America

Willars is the 110286th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Willars surname appeared 160 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 Willars.

We can also compare 2010 data for Willars 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 Willars

The surname Willars has its origins in England and can be traced back to the medieval period. The name originally comes from the region of Leicestershire, which has a rich history dating back to the early Middle Ages. The surname is derived from the Germanic personal name "Wilhard," which is composed of the elements "wil" meaning "will" or "desire," and "hard" meaning "brave" or "hardy." Over time, this name evolved into various spellings and forms, ultimately becoming Willars.

One of the earliest references to the surname appears in medieval manuscripts. In the Domesday Book of 1086, which served as a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror, names resembling Willars can be found, though the exact spelling varied. These early records indicate that the name was already established in English society shortly after the Norman Conquest.

Historical examples of the name Willars include Richard Willars, who is documented in the Assize Rolls of Leicestershire in 1220. This is one of the earliest documented instances of the name in this particular spelling. Another early example can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire in 1332, where a John Willars is listed. These rolls were tax records that provide invaluable insight into the economic conditions of medieval England and its inhabitants.

By examining ecclesiastical records, it is clear that the Willars family held some prominence in their region. William Willars is noted as a landowner in the records of the Hundred Rolls of 1273 for Leicestershire. The Hundred Rolls were a census-like survey ordered by King Edward I, intended to uncover cases of economic exploitation and land disputes.

Throughout the centuries, the name continued to be prominent in various records. In 1604, Robert Willars of Leicester is recorded in legal documents, indicating that the family remained influential in their native region. Another bearer of the surname, Thomas Willars, is memorialized in a will from the early 17th century, preserved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury archives, showing the continued presence and significance of the Willars family in English social and economic life.

A notable individual with the surname is Reverend Samuel Willars, born in 1788 and died in 1863, who served as a respected clergyman in the Church of England. His contributions to religious and community life are well-documented, reflecting the enduring legacy of the Willars name through the ages.

Other instances include John Willars, a yeoman farmer in the records of the Hearth Tax Returns of 1666, and Elizabeth Willars, who appears in parish records from the late 17th century. These historical mentions provide a window into the lives of the Willars family members, demonstrating their integration and lasting presence within English society.

The surname Willars, with its roots deeply embedded in medieval England, exemplifies the evolution and endurance of a family name over centuries. Its bearers have participated in various facets of society, from land ownership and taxation to religious and community leadership, thus painting a detailed picture of its historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Willars

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

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

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

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