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

Willem, 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 Willem surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Willem in America

Willem is the 78821st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Willem surname appeared 242 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 Willem.

We can also compare 2010 data for Willem 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 Willem

The surname Willem originates from the Netherlands, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. Derived from the given name Wilhelm, a common name in Germanic-speaking countries, it carries the meaning "will helmet" or "resolute protection." The name Wilhelm itself emanates from the Old High German elements "wil," meaning will or desire, and "helm," meaning protection or helmet.

The surname Willem first emerged in records from the Low Countries, an area comprising the modern-day Netherlands and Belgium. Given the region's linguistic influence, the name evolved in various spellings including Willems, Wille, and Willeme. The earliest use of Willem as a surname can be found in 13th-century documents, with the utilization of family names becoming more widespread following societal developments that required more organized record-keeping.

One of the earliest documented instances of the surname Willem is found in a 14th-century land grant record in the city of Utrecht. During this period, surnames began to stabilize as markers of familial and geographical identity, partly influenced by the expanding trade networks and legal systems in medieval Europe.

Among notable historical figures with the surname Willem is Dirk Willem, a Protestant martyr born in the early 16th century. His tale of suffering and conviction during the tumultuous periods of religious reformation in the Netherlands remains emblematic. Another figure of prominence is Jonkheer Willem Beukelszoon, a noble from the 14th century credited with pioneering fish preservation techniques that greatly impacted medieval fisheries and trade.

Witte Willem, a 17th-century Dutch pirate, made a notorious name for himself across the seas during the Golden Age of Piracy. His exploits, both celebrated and infamous, form part of the rich tapestry of maritime history in the Netherlands. Another significant historical personality is Petrus Willem, a 15th-century clergyman whose contributions to Middle Dutch literature and religious discourse were noteworthy.

Finally, the name can be traced back to Lucas Willem, a 13th-century Flemish merchant. His involvement in the trade routes of Northern Europe not only highlights the economic significance of the region but also serves as evidence of the integration and mobility of the Willem surname within the mercantile communities.

Thus, the surname Willem encapsulates a rich heritage, interwoven with the social, economic, and religious changes of medieval and early modern Europe. Its development reflects broader historical trends in the Netherlands and the surrounding regions, marking it as a name with deep cultural and historical resonance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Willem

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

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

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

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