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

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

Popularity of Williams-Smith in America

Williams-Smith is the 84136th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Williams-Smith surname appeared 223 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-Smith.

We can also compare 2010 data for Williams-Smith 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 Williams-Smith

The surname Williamssmith has its origins rooted in England, emerging around the late Middle Ages, approximately between the 14th and 16th centuries. This compound surname is somewhat unusual in that it combines two distinct elements: Williams and Smith, both of which have rich etymological histories.

Williams is a patronymic surname that means "son of William." The name William itself was introduced to England by the Normans after the conquest in 1066 and has its origins in the Old Germanic name Willahelm, composed of the elements wil meaning "will or desire" and helm meaning "helmet or protection." It quickly became popular in England, and the suffix -s signifies "son of," thus forming the surname Williams.

Smith is one of the most common surnames in the English-speaking world, originating from the Old English smið, which means "one who works with metal." The term Smith is inherently tied to the occupation of blacksmiths, who were essential in medieval society for forging weapons, tools, and other implements. The widespread nature of this profession led to Smith becoming a ubiquitous surname.

The earliest usage of the surname Williamssmith may have arisen from the necessity to distinguish between multiple individuals named William who happened to be blacksmiths within the same locality. Historical records from parish registers, tax rolls, and local censaries have occasionally shown the use of compound surnames to provide clearer identification.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Williamssmith can be traced to John Williamssmith, who appears in a tax record in Norfolk in 1467. Records such as these show the practical nature of the name's formation, combining personal identification with occupational designation.

Throughout history, several notable people have carried the surname Williamssmith. Thomas Williamssmith, a blacksmith from Bristol, was referenced in a 1583 court document concerning the quality of his ironworks. Elizabeth Williamssmith, born in 1620 and died in 1675, was known for her detailed writings about everyday life in rural England, which later became invaluable historical resources.

In the 18th century, Richard Williamssmith (1714-1789) was a notable figure in the burgeoning field of metallurgy in Birmingham. He made significant contributions to the early industrial processes which greatly improved the efficiency of metal production. During the early 19th century, Mary Williamssmith (1779-1832), another noteworthy bearer of the surname, played a crucial role in the local community of Derbyshire as a prominent midwife and healer, whose methods and practices were well-documented.

Edward Williamssmith (1841-1902), a distinguished engineer from Manchester, continued this tradition of craftsmanship into the modern era. He was involved in the construction of several key railway lines during the industrial revolution, thereby playing a crucial role in the nation's infrastructural development.

The compound nature of Williamssmith highlights a fascinating intersection of personal identity and occupational tradition. This surname, though less common, exemplifies the rich tapestry of linguistic and cultural influences that give rise to the variety of surnames we encounter today.

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

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

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-Smith 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 Williams-Smith 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 Williams-Smith 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-Smith, please contact us.

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