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Wilmington Family History

Wilmington Surname Meaning

English (Somerset and Devon): from any or all of the places called Wilmington (Devon, Kent, Shropshire, Somerset, Sussex). The Devon placename derives from the Old English personal name Wilhelm + Old English connective -ing- + tūn ‘farmstead, estate’. The Kent placename derives from the Old English personal name Wīghelm + Old English connective -ing- + tūn.

The Shropshire placename derives from the Old English personal name Wilhelm or Wīghelm + Old English connective -ing- + tūn. The Somerset placename may derive from the Old English personal name Winela or Willa, or Old English willa, wiella ‘well, spring, stream’ + mǣd ‘meadow’ + dūn ‘hill’.

The Sussex placename derives from the Old English personal name Wilma + Old English connective -ing- + tūn.

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


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Where is the Wilmington family from?

You can see how Wilmington families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wilmington family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wilmington families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 38 Wilmington families living in Somerset. This was about 44% of all the recorded Wilmington's in United Kingdom. Somerset had the highest population of Wilmington families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wilmington 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 Wilmington ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Leather Glove Cutter and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Wilmington. 50% of Wilmington men worked as a Leather Glove Cutter and 77% of Wilmington women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wilmington were Egg fruit Merchant (retired) and Cotton Weaver Unemployed.

View Census Data for Wilmington | 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

  • Leather Glove Cutter
    50%
  • Egg fruit Merchant (retired)
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    77%
  • Cotton Weaver
    10%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dutie
    7%
  • Cotton Weaver Unemployed
    7%

What Wilmington family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Wilmington. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wilmington census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wilmington

Passenger Lists

There are 768 immigration records available for the last name Wilmington. 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 Wilmington immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7,000 military records available for the last name Wilmington. For the veterans among your Wilmington ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wilmington military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wilmington family history

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What is the average Wilmington lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Wilmington life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2004, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Wilmington in 1963 was 69, and 43 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wilmington

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wilmington 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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