How Common Is the Surname Williams?
The surname Williams is the #3 most common last name in the United States, with an estimated 1,850,671 bearers. That's about 1 in 181 Americans. This data comes from the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau surname frequency tables.
This page covers the Williams 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 Williams.
Estimated Americans with this Surname
1,850,671
About 1 in 181 people in the U.S.
Census Rank
#3
Frequency Rate
550.97
per 100,000 people
Census Count
1,625,252
2010 Census
Data Source
2010
U.S. Census Bureau
Ancestry and Ethnicity for Williams
The Williams surname is most commonly associated with people who identify as Black (47.68%). The next largest groups are White (45.75%) and Two or More Races (2.81%).
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 ... Williams?
Pair the Williams surname with a first name to estimate how many people share that full name in the United States.
Williams Surname: Questions and Answers
How common is the last name Williams?
Williams is the #3 most common surname in the United States, with an estimated 1,850,671 people sharing this last name. It appears at a rate of 550.97 per 100,000 Americans.
What ethnicity is the surname Williams?
The Williams surname is most commonly associated with people who identify as Black (47.68%). The next largest groups are White (45.75%) and Two or More Races (2.81%). 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] Williams are there?
We can estimate any first + last name combination. Popular examples: Michael Williams, James Williams, John Williams. 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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