This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Willingham family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Willingham Family History

Willingham Surname Meaning

English (eastern): habitational name from North South Cherry Willingham Willingham by Stow (Lincolnshire) or Willingham (Cambridgeshire Suffolk).

The placenames derive from the Old English personal name Wifel or Willa + the Old English groupname suffix -ingas (genitive -inga-) + hām ‘village homestead’.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Willingham family from?

You can see how Willingham families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Willingham family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Willingham families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 142 Willingham families living in Yorkshire. This was about 22% of all the recorded Willingham's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Willingham families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Willingham surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Willingham 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 Willingham. 20% of Willingham men worked as a General Labourer and 75% of Willingham women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Willingham were Railway Clerk and Unpaid Domestic Du.

View Census Data for Willingham | 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%
  • Farm Labourer
    9%
  • Cowman
    7%
  • Railway Clerk
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Domestic Duties
    5%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic Du
    2%

What Willingham family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 46,000 census records available for the last name Willingham. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Willingham census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Willingham

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Willingham. 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 Willingham immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Willingham. For the veterans among your Willingham ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Willingham military records

You've only scratched the surface of Willingham family history

Discover More

What is the average Willingham lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Willingham life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1940, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Willingham in 1940 was 28, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Willingham

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Willingham 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Willingham family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial