How Common Is the Surname William?
The surname William is the #2,694 most common last name in the United States, with an estimated 15,216 bearers. That's about 1 in 22,075 Americans. This data comes from the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau surname frequency tables.
This page covers the William surname's frequency in the U.S. population, its rank among all American surnames, and a breakdown of ancestry and ethnicity data from the Census. You can also check how many people share any first + last name combination involving William.
Estimated Americans with this Surname
15,216
About 1 in 22,075 people in the U.S.
Census Rank
#2,694
Frequency Rate
4.53
per 100,000 people
Census Count
13,373
2010 Census
Data Source
2010
U.S. Census Bureau
Ancestry and Ethnicity for William
The William surname is most commonly associated with people who identify as Black (53.62%). The next largest groups are White (35.20%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (4.20%).
Self-reported race and ethnicity from the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau surname tables. Some categories may be suppressed for privacy when sample sizes are small.
How Many People Are Named ... William?
Pair the William surname with a first name to estimate how many people share that full name in the United States.
William Surname: Questions and Answers
How common is the last name William?
William is the #2,694 most common surname in the United States, with an estimated 15,216 people sharing this last name. It appears at a rate of 4.53 per 100,000 Americans.
What ethnicity is the surname William?
The William surname is most commonly associated with people who identify as Black (53.62%). The next largest groups are White (35.20%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (4.20%). This data comes from the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau surname tables, which include self-reported race and ethnicity breakdowns.
How many people named [First Name] William are there?
We can estimate any first + last name combination. Popular examples: Michael William, James William, John William. Search any combination on our homepage.
Where does this surname data come from?
Surname frequency data comes from the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau decennial surname tables. These list every surname appearing in the Census along with frequency rates and demographic breakdowns. Full methodology.
Search for a full name combination
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