NameCensus.

UK surname

William

An English surname derived from the Norman French given name Willaume, which is a cognate of William.

In the 1881 census there were 2,560 people recorded with the William surname, ranking it #1,747 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,535, ranked #4,031, down from #1,747 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gwynedd and Isle of Anglesey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for William is 14,962 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 40.0%.

1881 census count

2,560

Ranked #1,747

Modern count

1,535

2016, ranked #4,031

Peak year

1861

14,962 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • William had 2,560 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,747 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,535 in 2016, ranked #4,031.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14,962 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

William surname distribution map

The map shows where the William surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

William surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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William over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 8,689 #304
1861 historical 14,962 #151
1881 historical 2,560 #1,747
1891 historical 9,727 #454
1901 historical 2,655 #2,082
1911 historical 6,942 #747
1997 modern 1,603 #3,696
1998 modern 1,625 #3,784
1999 modern 1,534 #4,002
2000 modern 1,281 #4,639
2001 modern 644 #7,852
2002 modern 748 #7,126
2003 modern 772 #6,848
2004 modern 813 #6,581
2005 modern 938 #5,837
2006 modern 971 #5,686
2007 modern 1,059 #5,346
2008 modern 1,081 #5,292
2009 modern 1,158 #5,105
2010 modern 1,234 #4,928
2011 modern 1,244 #4,842
2012 modern 1,326 #4,492
2013 modern 1,391 #4,399
2014 modern 1,451 #4,281
2015 modern 1,464 #4,224
2016 modern 1,535 #4,031

Geography

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Where Williams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Manchester, Merthyr Tydfil and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gwynedd and Isle of Anglesey. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gwynedd 006 Gwynedd
2 Gwynedd 003 Gwynedd
3 Isle of Anglesey 003 Isle of Anglesey
4 Gwynedd 004 Gwynedd
5 Gwynedd 011 Gwynedd

Forenames

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First names often paired with William

These lists show first names that appear often with the William surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for William

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For William, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the William surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every William household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, William is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

William is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

William falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for William is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with William, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of William

The surname WILLIAM is of English origin, derived from the Norman French form of the Germanic name Willelm or Wilhelm. It is a compound word formed from the elements "wil" meaning "desire" and "helm" meaning "helmet" or "protection." The name gained widespread popularity after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname WILLIAM can be traced back to the 11th century, shortly after the Norman invasion. The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and property throughout England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, contains numerous references to individuals bearing this surname.

During the Middle Ages, the surname WILLIAM was particularly prevalent in areas of Normandy and northern France, as well as in regions of England with strong Norman influence, such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and East Anglia. The name was often associated with landed gentry and nobility, as many Norman noblemen adopted the surname following their conquest of England.

One of the most notable early bearers of the surname WILLIAM was William Marshal (c. 1147-1219), a celebrated knight and statesman who served as regent of England during the minority of King Henry III. Another prominent figure was William Wallace (c. 1270-1305), the Scottish knight and leader of the Scottish Wars of Independence against England.

In the 14th century, the surname WILLIAM appeared in various spellings, including Willame, Wyllyam, and Wylyam, reflecting the evolving nature of English orthography at the time. During this period, the name was also associated with place names, such as William of Wykeham (c. 1324-1404), the influential Bishop of Winchester and founder of Winchester College and New College, Oxford.

Other notable individuals with the surname WILLIAM throughout history include William Shakespeare (1564-1616), the renowned English playwright and poet; William Wordsworth (1770-1850), the influential English Romantic poet; and William Wilberforce (1759-1833), the English politician and philanthropist who led the movement to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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William families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the William surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Glamorgan leads with 456 Williams recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.50x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 456 10.50x
Middlesex 306 1.23x
Lancashire 187 0.63x
Surrey 172 1.41x
Staffordshire 91 1.08x
Yorkshire 89 0.36x
Caernarfonshire 85 8.42x
Warwickshire 81 1.29x
Kent 74 0.87x
Monmouthshire 69 3.83x
Cheshire 68 1.23x
Devon 56 1.08x
Gloucestershire 55 1.12x
Pembrokeshire 52 6.56x
Cornwall 51 1.81x
Durham 49 0.66x
Sussex 46 1.09x
Hampshire 42 0.82x
Shropshire 38 1.76x
Merionethshire 32 7.01x
Brecknockshire 27 5.41x
Worcestershire 27 0.83x
Denbighshire 25 2.65x
Essex 25 0.51x
Derbyshire 24 0.61x
Herefordshire 23 2.25x
Somerset 21 0.52x
Dorset 20 1.22x
Montgomeryshire 20 3.50x
Carmarthenshire 19 1.81x
Cardiganshire 18 2.96x
Lanarkshire 18 0.22x
Flintshire 17 2.53x
Hertfordshire 15 0.87x
Nottinghamshire 13 0.39x
Angus 11 0.48x
Norfolk 11 0.29x
Northumberland 11 0.30x
Suffolk 11 0.36x
Anglesey 9 2.04x
Oxfordshire 9 0.58x
West Lothian 9 2.40x
Aberdeenshire 7 0.30x
Berkshire 7 0.37x
Northamptonshire 7 0.30x
Cumberland 6 0.28x
Leicestershire 6 0.22x
Lincolnshire 6 0.15x
Midlothian 6 0.18x
Rutland 6 3.27x
Royal Navy 4 1.35x
Westmorland 4 0.73x
Bedfordshire 3 0.23x
Stirlingshire 3 0.33x
Ayrshire 1 0.05x
Banffshire 1 0.19x
Berwickshire 1 0.33x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.07x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.06x
Channel Islands 1 0.14x
Inverness-shire 1 0.13x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.28x
Perthshire 1 0.09x
Selkirkshire 1 0.44x
Wiltshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 50 Williams recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.38x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 50 2.38x
Lambeth 50 2.30x
Clase 49 30.33x
Cwmdu 40 75.57x
Paddington London 37 4.03x
Ystradyfodwg 37 9.71x
St Pancras London 30 1.49x
Llansamlet Higher 27 83.31x
Islington London 23 0.95x
Bedwellty 22 6.91x
Llandyfodwg 22 89.32x
Everton 21 2.23x
Kensington London 21 1.51x
St Marylebone London 21 1.58x
Llanllyfni 20 42.00x
St George In East 20 11.78x
Aberdare 19 6.37x
Merthyr Tydfil 19 4.55x
Newington 19 2.06x
West Bromwich 19 3.94x
Brighton 18 2.12x
Wolstanton 18 7.04x
Bermondsey 17 2.29x
Aston 16 0.92x
Llansamlet Lower 16 40.68x
Llantrisant 16 14.61x
Pyle 16 199.75x
Salford 16 1.84x
Battersea 14 1.52x
Camberwell 14 0.88x
Hammersmith London 14 2.28x
Stoke Damerel 14 3.85x
West Derby 14 1.62x
Wick 13 419.35x
Buckhorn Weston 12 269.66x
Deptford St Paul 12 1.83x
Llangattock 12 29.53x
Llanguick 12 15.42x
Llantwit Vairdre 12 24.58x
Portsea 12 1.20x
St Brides Major 12 206.54x
Stockton On Tees 12 3.35x
Bootle Cum Linacre 11 4.68x
Hulme 11 1.78x
Ilkeston 11 10.04x
Mile End Old Town 11 2.79x
Toxteth Park 11 1.10x
Bethnal Green London 10 0.92x
Birkenhead 10 2.28x
Llandanwg 10 114.68x
Llysfaen 10 94.97x
Stansty 10 96.15x
Willesden 10 4.25x
Christchurch 9 16.13x
Clerkenwell London 9 1.53x
Govan 9 0.45x
Handsworth 9 4.34x
Llanfabon 9 39.61x
Oswestry Rural 9 27.25x
Wenvoe 9 260.12x
Cannock 8 5.44x
Coventry St Michael 8 3.96x
Falmouth 8 8.00x
Jeffreston 8 189.57x
Llanelly 8 3.38x
Llawhaden 8 173.54x
North South Gosforth 8 169.13x
Rotherham 8 5.74x
Tythegston Higher 8 60.65x
West Dean 8 10.06x
Westminster St James 8 3.12x
Aberystruth 7 4.40x
Clapham 7 2.24x
Croydon 7 1.04x
Kingston On Thames 7 2.40x
Liverpool 7 0.39x
Llanishen 7 175.00x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 1.75x
St Martin In Meneage 7 206.49x
Ynyscynhaiarn 7 14.90x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the William surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 172
Elizabeth 128
Sarah 78
Ann 52
Jane 51
Margaret 48
Martha 36
Ellen 32
Catherine 28
Emma 26
Emily 24
Alice 22
Eliza 22
Annie 21
Anne 17
Hannah 17
Fanny 16
Harriet 16
Louisa 16
Harriett 12
Rachel 12
Agnes 11
Susan 10
Charlotte 9
Kate 9
Maria 9
Ada 8
Clara 8
Selina 8
Edith 7
Esther 6
Florence 6
Frances 6
Margret 6
Rose 6
Caroline 5
Eleanor 5
Lucy 5
Margt. 5
Matilda 5
Rebecca 5
Ruth 5
Sophia 5
Amelia 4
Amy 4
Grace 4
Isabella 4
Jennet 4
Jessie 4
Lydia 4

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the William surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 150
William 149
Thomas 126
George 64
James 59
David 58
Edward 45
Richard 41
Henry 40
Charles 36
Joseph 36
Robert 30
Evan 24
Frederick 16
Alfred 14
Benjamin 14
Arthur 13
Griffith 11
Samuel 11
Walter 11
Harry 10
Albert 9
Frank 8
Herbert 8
Morgan 8
Edwin 7
Lewis 7
Owen 7
Thos. 7
Hugh 6
Jenkin 6
Mark 6
Ernest 5
Francis 5
Fred 5
Howell 5
Morris 5
Rees 5
Daniel 4
Josiah 4
Peter 4
Wm. 4
Edmund 3
Enoch 3
Geo. 3
Isaac 3
Jonathan 3
Solomon 3
Sydney 3
Williams 3

FAQ

William surname: questions and answers

How common was the William surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,560 people were recorded with the William surname. That placed it at #1,747 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the William surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,535 in 2016. That gives William a modern rank of #4,031.

What does the William surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Norman French given name Willaume, which is a cognate of William.

What does the William map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of William bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.