NameCensus.

UK surname

Williamson

The son of William, an English patronymic surname derived from the popular medieval given name William.

In the 1881 census there were 26,852 people recorded with the Williamson surname, ranking it #120 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 35,923, ranked #143, down from #120 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North and East Isles, Lerwick North and Central Shetland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Williamson is 36,429 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.8%.

1881 census count

26,852

Ranked #120

Modern count

35,923

2016, ranked #143

Peak year

2010

36,429 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Williamson had 26,852 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #120 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 35,923 in 2016, ranked #143.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 32,360 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Williamson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Williamson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Williamson 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 18,842 #112
1861 historical 20,609 #103
1881 historical 26,852 #120
1891 historical 29,200 #117
1901 historical 32,360 #125
1911 historical 25,211 #170
1997 modern 34,601 #140
1998 modern 35,848 #140
1999 modern 36,018 #142
2000 modern 35,927 #142
2001 modern 34,927 #143
2002 modern 35,701 #146
2003 modern 34,781 #145
2004 modern 34,832 #145
2005 modern 34,347 #145
2006 modern 34,390 #145
2007 modern 34,769 #144
2008 modern 35,034 #143
2009 modern 35,812 #143
2010 modern 36,429 #143
2011 modern 35,842 #145
2012 modern 35,131 #144
2013 modern 35,851 #144
2014 modern 36,189 #144
2015 modern 35,998 #144
2016 modern 35,923 #143

Geography

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Where Williamsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, London parishes, Edinburgh, Manchester and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North and East Isles, Lerwick North, Central Shetland, North Mainland and East and West Mainland. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North and East Isles Shetland Islands
2 Lerwick North Shetland Islands
3 Central Shetland Shetland Islands
4 North Mainland Shetland Islands
5 East and West Mainland Shetland Islands

Forenames

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First names often paired with Williamson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Williamson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Williamson, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Williamson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Williamson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Williamson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Williamson is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Williamson falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Williamson 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Williamson

The surname Williamson has its origins in England and Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. It is a patronymic name, derived from the personal name William, which itself comes from the Germanic elements "wil" meaning "will" or "desire" and "helm" meaning "helmet" or "protection". The addition of the suffix "-son" indicates "son of".

The earliest recorded instances of the name Williamson can be traced back to the late 12th century in various administrative and legal records. For example, it appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1196 as Willelmus filius Willelmi, essentially meaning "William, son of William". This demonstrates the transition from the patronymic form to the inherited surname.

The Williamson surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, the great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. While the specific spelling "Williamson" is not mentioned, there are references to individuals with the name William and its variants, such as Willelm and Willame, which would later evolve into the surname form.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name Williamson became more widespread across England and Scotland, often associated with landowners and prominent families. One notable example is Sir Adam Williamson (c. 1280-1338), a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Scottish Wars of Independence.

In the 16th century, the Williamson surname gained further recognition with the exploits of John Williamson (c. 1520-1598), a sea captain and merchant adventurer from Northamptonshire, England. He played a pivotal role in establishing English trade with the Barbary Coast of North Africa.

Another individual of historical significance was Sir Joseph Williamson (1633-1701), an English politician and diplomat who served as Secretary of State under King Charles II and King James II. He was also a founding member of the Royal Society and a noted book collector.

During the 17th century, the Williamson surname was also associated with the colonization of the Americas. One such figure was Sir Jonathan Williamson (1629-1707), an English merchant and landowner who became one of the first Lords Proprietors of the Province of Carolina in the British colonies.

In the literary world, David Williamson (1869-1954), a Scottish writer and journalist, gained recognition for his works such as "Scots Streams" and "Edinburgensis", which explored the history and culture of Edinburgh.

These examples illustrate the rich history and widespread presence of the Williamson surname across various fields and regions throughout the centuries, reflecting its enduring legacy as a prominent English and Scottish surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Williamson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Williamson 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. Lancashire leads with 3,976 Williamsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.28x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3,976 1.28x
Yorkshire 2,906 1.12x
Lanarkshire 1,583 1.87x
Cheshire 1,554 2.69x
Middlesex 1,523 0.58x
Shetland 1,219 45.58x
Midlothian 1,078 3.07x
Durham 1,056 1.36x
Fife 717 4.62x
Surrey 637 0.50x
Norfolk 624 1.55x
Lincolnshire 593 1.42x
Cumberland 587 2.60x
Derbyshire 580 1.41x
Aberdeenshire 562 2.32x
Nottinghamshire 534 1.51x
Staffordshire 531 0.60x
Angus 470 1.94x
Leicestershire 460 1.58x
Northumberland 454 1.17x
Kent 407 0.46x
Renfrewshire 342 1.69x
Ayrshire 319 1.63x
Northamptonshire 233 0.95x
Warwickshire 225 0.34x
Perthshire 222 1.89x
Caithness 218 6.08x
Essex 193 0.37x
Stirlingshire 192 1.99x
West Lothian 172 4.36x
Bedfordshire 169 1.25x
Dunbartonshire 145 2.06x
Dumfriesshire 141 2.44x
Morayshire 139 3.42x
Ross-shire 135 1.88x
Hampshire 133 0.25x
Gloucestershire 112 0.22x
Inverness-shire 111 1.42x
Banffshire 102 1.88x
Sussex 102 0.23x
Buckinghamshire 100 0.63x
Kirkcudbrightshire 86 2.27x
Cambridgeshire 65 0.39x
Worcestershire 65 0.19x
Hertfordshire 63 0.35x
Orkney 56 1.94x
Wigtownshire 52 1.50x
Selkirkshire 50 2.11x
Glamorgan 49 0.11x
East Lothian 45 1.30x
Shropshire 45 0.20x
Clackmannanshire 42 1.94x
Rutland 42 2.18x
Somerset 41 0.10x
Roxburghshire 39 0.82x
Argyllshire 38 0.52x
Westmorland 36 0.63x
Isle of Man 34 0.70x
Oxfordshire 34 0.21x
Suffolk 34 0.11x
Berkshire 33 0.17x
Huntingdonshire 29 0.56x
Kincardineshire 24 0.75x
Berwickshire 22 0.69x
Buteshire 22 1.39x
Devon 22 0.04x
Cornwall 21 0.07x
Denbighshire 20 0.20x
Flintshire 20 0.28x
Peeblesshire 20 1.62x
Royal Navy 18 0.58x
Kinross-shire 16 2.42x
Monmouthshire 15 0.08x
Anglesey 14 0.30x
Wiltshire 14 0.06x
Sutherland 12 0.60x
Carmarthenshire 11 0.10x
Dorset 9 0.05x
Herefordshire 9 0.08x
Caernarfonshire 7 0.07x
Cardiganshire 5 0.08x
Pembrokeshire 5 0.06x
Channel Islands 2 0.03x
Nairnshire 2 0.25x
Brecknockshire 1 0.02x
Merionethshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 423 Williamsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.97x.

Place Total Index
Barony 423 1.97x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 412 2.92x
Govan 347 1.66x
Ashton Under Lyne 318 4.68x
Manchester 284 2.03x
Salford 237 2.59x
Glasgow 224 1.49x
Leeds 214 1.46x
Dundee 205 2.26x
Islington London 205 0.81x
Nottingham St Mary 171 1.87x
Aberdeen Old Machar 163 3.22x
Lerwick Gulberwick 147 35.51x
Northmavine 147 72.17x
Hunslet 145 3.58x
Hulme 144 2.22x
Liverpool 142 0.75x
Stockport 130 4.37x
Preston 126 1.52x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 125 2.75x
Lambeth 120 0.53x
Walls 119 91.74x
Hackney London 118 0.80x
Leicester St Margaret 112 1.58x
Toxteth Park 112 1.06x
West Greenock 109 2.99x
Camberwell 108 0.65x
Oldham 108 1.08x
South Leith 107 2.71x
West Derby 106 1.17x
Kensington London 103 0.71x
Delting 101 67.14x
Nesting Lunnas Whalsay 101 42.85x
Chorlton On Medlock 99 2.01x
Scarborough 93 3.94x
Stoke Upon Trent 93 0.99x
Dysart 90 8.62x
Gorton 90 3.08x
Holbeck 89 5.18x
Holy Trinity 89 1.43x
Unst 88 44.99x
Yell South 87 133.68x
Dunfermline 86 3.61x
Nantwich 85 12.65x
St Pancras London 84 0.40x
Dukinfield 82 3.07x
Mile End Old Town 81 1.96x
Pendleton In Salford 80 2.16x
Everton 79 0.80x
Bethnal Green London 78 0.69x
Heaton Norris 78 4.41x
Inverness 78 3.97x
Bishopwearmouth 75 1.12x
Inveresk 75 7.90x
North Leith 75 4.62x
Sheffield 74 0.90x
Bothwell 72 3.13x
Brightside Bierlow 71 1.39x
Dunrossness 70 19.88x
St Marylebone London 70 0.50x
Westoe 70 1.58x
Glossop Dale 67 3.49x
Kirkdale 67 1.28x
Warrington 67 1.82x
Abbey 65 2.10x
North Yell 64 86.96x
Barrow In Furness 63 1.49x
Harrington 63 23.15x
Wick 61 5.27x
Liff Benvie 60 1.63x
Paddington London 60 0.62x
Yell Mid 60 67.88x
Ecclesall Bierlow 59 1.12x
Tynemouth 59 2.83x
Dewsbury 58 2.18x
Whitwick 58 15.71x
Ardwick 57 2.03x
Bridlington 57 9.59x
Bredbury 56 16.74x
Falkirk 56 2.48x
Elswick 55 1.77x
Newton 55 2.30x
Newton In Makerfield 55 5.78x
Carriden 54 30.21x
Kilmarnock 54 2.31x
Thurso 54 9.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1,377
Sarah 744
Elizabeth 706
Jane 428
Ann 393
Annie 315
Alice 275
Hannah 257
Emma 249
Margaret 235
Eliza 230
Ellen 217
Martha 184
Emily 156
Charlotte 115
Edith 113
Harriet 107
Florence 105
Maria 104
Ada 99
Isabella 96
Catherine 89
Louisa 84
Fanny 82
Frances 82
Kate 79
Anne 74
Caroline 70
Agnes 69
Clara 66
Lucy 65
Esther 64
Harriett 57
Rebecca 48
Susan 47
Eleanor 44
Jessie 43
Elizth. 40
Amelia 39
Ruth 39
Betsy 36
Minnie 31
Rose 31
Gertrude 30
Matilda 30
Susannah 30
Amy 29
Ethel 28
Grace 28
Helen 28

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 1,332
William 986
Thomas 683
James 635
George 599
Joseph 380
Robert 350
Charles 300
Henry 298
Edward 206
Arthur 180
Samuel 177
Alfred 162
Richard 131
Frederick 116
Albert 102
Walter 96
Harry 87
David 80
Herbert 80
Frank 73
Wm. 65
Thos. 55
Ernest 54
Isaac 52
Fred 50
Benjamin 47
Edwin 46
Ralph 43
Tom 41
Francis 40
Peter 40
Andrew 37
Matthew 37
Daniel 32
Alexander 31
Geo. 31
Chas. 27
Hugh 25
Jas. 25
Christopher 24
Percy 24
Jno. 20
Leonard 20
Fredk. 18
Willm. 17
Mark 16
Robt. 16
Elijah 15
Reuben 15

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Williamson households.

FAQ

Williamson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Williamson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 26,852 people were recorded with the Williamson surname. That placed it at #120 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Williamson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 35,923 in 2016. That gives Williamson a modern rank of #143.

What does the Williamson surname mean?

The son of William, an English patronymic surname derived from the popular medieval given name William.

What does the Williamson map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Williamson 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.