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Mcwilliam Family History

Mcwilliam Surname Meaning

Scottish and Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Uilleim a patronymic from a Gaelicized form of William also Anglicized as Williamson in Scotland.

The name is thought to be mainly Scottish in Ulster though there has been some confusion with McQuillan in County Down.

In Connacht McWilliam was a branch of Burke.

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


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Where is the Mcwilliam family from?

You can see how Mcwilliam families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Mcwilliam family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Mcwilliam families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 158 Mcwilliam families living in Lancashire. This was about 41% of all the recorded Mcwilliam's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Mcwilliam families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Mcwilliam 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 Mcwilliam 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 Mcwilliam. 20% of Mcwilliam men worked as a General Labourer and 76% of Mcwilliam women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Mcwilliam were Aircraft Electrician and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Mcwilliam | 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
    20%
  • Retired
    15%
  • Joiner
    10%
  • Aircraft Electrician
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    76%
  • Household Duties
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Housekeeper
    2%

What Mcwilliam family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 40,000 census records available for the last name Mcwilliam. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Mcwilliam census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Mcwilliam

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Mcwilliam. 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 Mcwilliam immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Mcwilliam. For the veterans among your Mcwilliam ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Mcwilliam military records

You've only scratched the surface of Mcwilliam family history

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What is the average Mcwilliam lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Mcwilliam life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1965. The average life expectancy for Mcwilliam in 1952 was 29, and 68 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Mcwilliam

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Mcwilliam 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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