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

Willson, 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 Willson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Willson in America

Willson is the 3679th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Willson surname appeared 9,659 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Willson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Willson 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 Willson

The Willson surname finds its origin in England, tracing back to the early medieval period. It derives from the personal name Will, a diminutive of William, combined with the patronymic suffix "-son," meaning "son of." This construction was common in English naming practices, indicating lineage and family ties.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Willson name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a certain Willelmus filius Willelmi (William, son of William) is mentioned. This entry suggests the surname's usage as a hereditary name during the 12th century.

Throughout the centuries, the Willson surname underwent various spelling variations, including Willson, Wilson, Wyllson, and Wilsone, reflecting the inconsistent nature of English orthography in earlier times. Many of these variations can be found in historical records, such as parish registers and tax rolls.

Notable individuals bearing the Willson surname include Sir Thomas Willson (1555-1629), an English naval commander who served under Sir Francis Drake and later became the Governor of the East India Company's factory in Surat, India. Another prominent figure was Edward Willson (1838-1899), an English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Physicians.

In Scotland, the Willson name has roots in the village of Wilston, located in Renfrewshire. This connection is exemplified by Sir Robert Willson (1612-1688), a Scottish merchant and landowner who acquired the estate of Muirhouses in East Lothian.

Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded Willsons in America was Reverend John Willson (1588-1676), an English clergyman who emigrated to Massachusetts in 1635 and became the first minister of Boston's First Church.

Other notable individuals with the Willson surname include James Willson (1763-1821), an American politician and judge who served as the 21st Governor of Virginia, and Sir James Willson Perovne (1817-1894), an English judge and legal writer who served as the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer.

While the Willson surname may have originated from humble beginnings, its bearers have left their mark across various fields, from military and politics to architecture and literature, reflecting the diverse tapestry of human endeavors throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Willson

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

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

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

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