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Wilms Family History

Wilms Name Meaning

North German and Dutch: patronymic from a shortened form of the personal name Wilhelm .

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


Similar surnames: Willms, Wilmes, Wilm, Wills, Wilks, Eilts, Wiens, Witts, Hils, Vilas

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Wilms family from?

You can see how Wilms families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wilms family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Wilms families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 23 Wilms families living in Missouri. This was about 15% of all the recorded Wilms's in USA. Missouri had the highest population of Wilms families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wilms 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 Wilms ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Wilms. 30% of Wilms men worked as a Laborer and 30% of Wilms women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wilms were Salesman and Waitress. .

View Census Data for Wilms | 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 1940

  • Laborer
    30%
  • Farmer
    22%
  • Truck Driver
    11%
  • Salesman
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    30%
  • Maid
    30%
  • Teacher
    20%
  • Waitress
    20%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Wilms family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Wilms. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wilms census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Wilms

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Wilms. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Wilms immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Wilms military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wilms family history

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What is the average Wilms lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Wilms life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1961, and highest in 1970. The average life expectancy for Wilms in 1954 was 47, and 87 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wilms

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