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Willson Family History

Willson Surname Meaning

English (eastern): variant of Wilson.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Willson family from?

You can see how Willson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Willson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Willson families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 860 Willson families living in London. This was about 29% of all the recorded Willson's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Willson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Willson surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Willson ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Willson. 7% of Willson men worked as a General Labourer and 71% of Willson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Willson were Carpenter and Housewife.

View Census Data for Willson | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    7%
  • Builders Labourer
    4%
  • Bricklayer
    3%
  • Carpenter
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%

What Willson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 226,000 census records available for the last name Willson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Willson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Willson

Passenger Lists

There are 13,000 immigration records available for the last name Willson. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Willson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 22,000 military records available for the last name Willson. For the veterans among your Willson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Willson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Willson family history

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What is the average Willson lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Willson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Willson in 1940 was 44, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Willson

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Willson ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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