History of your Surname
Get access to Willam family records.Start a free trial

Willam Family History

Willam Name Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: William, Killam, Gillam, Willan, Wilham, Wollam, Millam, Willams

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 Willam family from?

You can see how Willam families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Willam family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Willam families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1840 there was 1 Willam family living in Louisiana. This was 100% of all the recorded Willam's in USA. Louisiana had the highest population of Willam families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Willam surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Willam ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Willam. 30% of Willam men worked as a Farmer and 20% of Willam women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Willam were Labor and Housework. .

View Census Data for Willam | 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

  • Farmer
    30%
  • Laborer
    23%
  • Farm Laborer
    18%
  • Labor
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    20%
  • Waitress
    15%
  • Clerk
    10%
  • Housework
    10%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Willam family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Willam. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Willam census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Willam

Passenger Lists

There are 471 immigration records available for the last name Willam. 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 Willam immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 196 military records available for the last name Willam. For the veterans among your Willam ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Willam military records

You've only scratched the surface of Willam family history

Discover More

What is the average Willam lifespan?

Average Willam life expectancy in 1990 was 91 years. This was higher than the general public life expectancy which was 74.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Willam

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Willam family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Willam last name

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