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

Williston, 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 Williston surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Williston in America

Williston is the 29947th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Williston surname appeared 784 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 Williston.

We can also compare 2010 data for Williston 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 Williston

The surname Williston has its origins in the British Isles, specifically in England, dating back to medieval times. It is a locational surname, which means it originally denoted someone who hailed from a particular place. The name likely derives from the Old English personal name Wil(l), and tun, which means "settlement" or "farmstead." Thus, Williston would essentially mean "the settlement of Will".

Williston appears to have originated in the West Country of England, especially in areas such as Devon and Cornwall. Early variants of the name in historical records include Wilton and Willardston. These variations indicate that the name could have evolved from multiple small settlements with similar names.

References to the surname go back to significant historical documents. For instance, the Domesday Book compiled in 1086, although not directly listing Williston, does include the settlement of Wiltone and Willastone, which indicate early forms of the name. By the time of later medieval records, the name had evolved closer to its current form. In the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 for Devon, one finds the name Willeliston.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname in a form recognizable to modern eyes is John de Williston, appearing in court records from 1376. Another notable mention is Richard Williston, a merchant documented in Bristol's port records from 1451. This implies the name was associated with trade and possibly maritime activities during the late medieval period.

Further notable individuals include Samuel Williston (1795–1874), an influential figure in American education, philanthropy, and a noted founder of Williston Seminary in Massachusetts. His impact on education continues to be remembered in the name of the institution, now known as the Williston Northampton School.

Continuing into more modern history, Edward B. Williston (1837–1920) stands out as a distinguished Union Army officer during the American Civil War. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Trevilian Station. His military career added notable recognition to the surname in the annals of American history.

Joseph Williston, recorded in the church registers of St. Botolph’s in London in 1602, and likely a merchant or trader, shows the movement and establishment of the name in urban environments during the Elizabethan era.

Towards the 19th century, notable figures like Henry Williston, a prominent architect born in 1808 and known for designing several key structures in Manchester, further disseminated the surname in professional and social circles.

Overall, the surname Williston carries a rich history connected to locales and movements within England and later, notable migrations and contributions in various fields within the United States. Its etymological roots firmly establish it as a name connected to medieval settlements and personal lineage within the old English framework.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Williston

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

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

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

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