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Wilhelm Family History

Wilhelm Surname Meaning

German: from the ancient Germanic personal name Willahalm composed of the elements wil ‘will desire’.

It combines the meaning of will or desire with that of protection.

The second element, helm, signifies ‘helmet’ or ‘protection’.

This name reflects a cultural emphasis on strength and determination.

Overall, the name encapsulates a notion of a strong-willed protector.

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


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Where is the Wilhelm family from?

You can see how Wilhelm families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wilhelm family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wilhelm families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 25 Wilhelm families living in London. This was about 66% of all the recorded Wilhelm's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Wilhelm families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wilhelm 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 Wilhelm ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Barrister and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Wilhelm. 100% of Wilhelm men worked as a Barrister and 60% of Wilhelm women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Wilhelm | 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

  • Barrister
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    60%
  • Unpaid Domestic Work
    40%

What Wilhelm family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 78,000 census records available for the last name Wilhelm. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wilhelm census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wilhelm

Passenger Lists

There are 27,000 immigration records available for the last name Wilhelm. 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 Wilhelm immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 30,000 military records available for the last name Wilhelm. For the veterans among your Wilhelm ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wilhelm military records

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