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Mcwilliams Family History

Mcwilliams Surname Meaning

Irish (northern): Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Uilleim a patronymic from a Gaelicized form of William with excrescent English -s.

In Ireland it sometimes represents a partial Gaelicization of Welsh Williams.

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 Mcwilliams family from?

You can see how Mcwilliams families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Mcwilliams family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Mcwilliams families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 67 Mcwilliams families living in Durham. This was about 33% of all the recorded Mcwilliams's in United Kingdom. Durham had the highest population of Mcwilliams families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Mcwilliams 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 Mcwilliams 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 Mcwilliams. 43% of Mcwilliams men worked as a General Labourer and 76% of Mcwilliams women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Mcwilliams were Insurance Clerk and Office Cleaner.

View Census Data for Mcwilliams | 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
    43%
  • Incapacitated
    8%
  • Builders Labourer Heavy Worker
    8%
  • Insurance Clerk
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    76%
  • Domestic Servant
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Office Cleaner
    3%

What Mcwilliams family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 88,000 census records available for the last name Mcwilliams. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Mcwilliams census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Mcwilliams

Passenger Lists

There are 11,000 immigration records available for the last name Mcwilliams. 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 Mcwilliams immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 20,000 military records available for the last name Mcwilliams. For the veterans among your Mcwilliams ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Mcwilliams military records

You've only scratched the surface of Mcwilliams family history

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What is the average Mcwilliams lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Mcwilliams life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Mcwilliams in 1943 was 32, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Mcwilliams

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Mcwilliams 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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