Find out how popular the last name Williams-Davis 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-Davis.

Williams-Davis, 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-Davis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Williams-Davis in America

Williams-Davis is the 151532nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Williams-Davis surname appeared 108 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-Davis.

The history of the last name Williams-Davis

The surname WilliamsDavis is intriguing due to its rare combination of two prominent names, both of which have deep historical roots in Europe. The name likely originated in England or Wales, where the names Williams and Davis have been historically common. Williams is a patronymic surname, meaning "son of William," and the name William itself is of Germanic origin, derived from the elements "wil" meaning "will" or "desire" and "helm" meaning "helmet" or "protection." The surname Williams had become widespread in Wales and England by the 13th century.

The surname Davis is similarly a patronymic name, meaning "son of David." The name David has Hebrew origins, coming from "David," meaning "beloved." It was adopted into the Welsh language as Dafydd and became Davis as one of the Anglicized forms. The surname Davis can be traced back to medieval records in Wales and England, with various spellings appearing in historical documents.

When combined into the unique surname WilliamsDavis, it suggests a merging of two family lines, possibly as an attempt to preserve both surnames within a single lineage. This type of compounded surname could have originated during periods when families sought to retain both maternal and paternal surnames for legal, social, or economic reasons. Such practices became more common during the Victorian era in the 19th century, though earlier examples may also exist.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname WilliamsDavis appears in parish registers from the late 18th century in England. For example, John WilliamsDavis, born in 1789 in Worcestershire, England, is one of the first individuals documented with this surname. He was known to be a landowner and an influential figure in his local parish.

Another notable individual was Charles WilliamsDavis, born in 1822 in Wales. Charles became a prominent industrialist during the Industrial Revolution, contributing significantly to the development of the coal mining industry in South Wales. His efforts were instrumental in improving mine safety and worker conditions, earning him recognition in various historical records from the period.

Eliza WilliamsDavis, born in 1855, was a notable suffragette and early advocate for women's rights in England. Her activism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was pivotal in bringing attention to women's issues and she is often cited in historical accounts documenting the progress of the suffrage movement.

In the realm of literature, Arthur WilliamsDavis, a notable writer born in 1878, achieved recognition for his historical novels set in medieval England. His works extensively drew upon the rich historical past of the regions from which his surname originated, and his books were widely read during the early 20th century.

Finally, the surname WilliamsDavis also appears in the field of science. Dr. Margaret WilliamsDavis, born in 1912, was a pioneering biochemist whose research in enzyme function and genetics made her a prominent figure in scientific communities during the mid-20th century. She published numerous influential papers and was a member of several prestigious scientific organizations.

The combination of Williams and Davis into a single surname reflects a unique familial identity and ties to rich historical periods and regions in England and Wales. The legacy of those who bore this surname is rooted in contributions to business, literature, activism, and science, marking an indelible imprint on history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Williams-Davis

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

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-Davis 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.

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-Davis 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-Davis, please contact us.

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