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

Willetts, 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 Willetts surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Willetts in America

Willetts is the 25989th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Willetts surname appeared 944 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 Willetts.

We can also compare 2010 data for Willetts 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 Willetts

The surname Willetts is of English origin and dates back to at least the medieval period. It is derived from diminutive forms of the given name William, which itself is of Norman origin, from the Old French Guillaume and the Old Germanic Willahelm, meaning "wilful protector." The diminutive suffixes like -et or -ot were commonly added to given names in medieval England to signify a smaller or younger version of the original name, hence Willetts likely means "little William" or "son of William."

One of the earliest areas associated with the surname Willetts is Worcestershire, a county in the West Midlands of England. This region, known for its strong medieval heritage, was one of the heartlands of early English surnames. Old records dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries show variations of the name, such as Willett, Willet, and Willetts. These spellings were often used interchangeably in the historical manuscripts of the period.

The name Willetts appears in several early records. For instance, a Johannes Willett was listed in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were a census commissioned by King Edward I. Another early record includes a reference to Edward Willett in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in the early 14th century. These records are significant as they provide evidence of the surname's usage and establish a historical presence in specific areas.

One notable individual bearing the surname was Edward Willett, a renowned silversmith born in the early 1600s and active in London. His works were highly valued, and examples of his craftsmanship are preserved in various museums. Additionally, Benjamin Willett, a merchant active in the late 17th century, was instrumental in the economic development of the British colonies in America.

Thomas Willetts, born in 1617 in Kent, England, and later migrating to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, is another significant figure. He was an early settler who contributed to the expansion of English settlements in the New World. His contributions to the colony were widely recognized, and his progeny continued to play crucial roles in the development of early American society.

Moving forwards, Edward Willetts, a notable 19th-century figure, was an influential agricultural pioneer in the United States, assisting in the development of modern farming techniques.

In summary, the surname Willetts has a rich and varied history, originating from medieval England and evolving through centuries of migration and societal changes. The name is rooted in the given name William, modified through diminutive forms common in Middle English. The name has appeared in significant historical records and has been associated with several notable individuals over the centuries, reflecting a deep-seated heritage in both England and early America.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Willetts

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

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

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

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