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

Wilmot, 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 Wilmot surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wilmot in America

Wilmot is the 6854th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wilmot surname appeared 4,910 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Wilmot.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wilmot 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 Wilmot

The surname Wilmot has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval era. It is derived from the Old English words "wille" and "mot," meaning "will" and "meeting" or "assembly." The surname likely originated as a descriptive name for someone who attended important gatherings or meetings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Willemot" and "Wilmet," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that time.

During the 12th century, the Wilmot family emerged as prominent landowners and influential figures in the county of Warwickshire. Sir John Wilmot, born around 1150, was a notable member of the family who held lands in Chadshunt and served as a knight under King John.

The surname continued to gain prominence in the following centuries. Sir Nicholas Wilmot (1515-1571) was a prominent politician and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as the High Sheriff of Warwickshire and played a crucial role in suppressing the Rising of the North, a rebellion against the Queen's religious policies.

In the 17th century, John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester (1647-1680), gained notoriety as a poet, satirist, and courtier in the court of King Charles II. His bawdy and explicit works earned him both acclaim and controversy during his lifetime.

Another notable figure was Sir John Eardley Wilmot (1709-1792), a renowned English judge and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. He made significant contributions to the development of English common law and is remembered for his fair and impartial rulings.

The Wilmot family also had connections to place names in England. The village of Wilmcote in Warwickshire is believed to have derived its name from the Wilmot family, who held lands in the area during medieval times. Similarly, the hamlet of Wilmot in Devon may have been named after members of the Wilmot family who settled there.

Throughout history, the surname Wilmot has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, politicians, poets, and legal scholars. While the spelling has evolved over time, the name has maintained its connection to its Old English roots and continues to be a prominent surname in England and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wilmot

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

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

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

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