Explore the Family Name Williston
The meaning of Williston
English or Scottish: unexplained. This has the form of a habitational name, but no such place has been identified. It may be an altered form of Willison, or possibly a habitational name from Willesden, now part of North London.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Williston in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname "Williston" saw a slight decrease in rank from 29,932 in 2000 to 29,947 in 2010, with a change of -0.05. However, the count of individuals with this surname increased from 740 in 2000 to 784 in 2010, a growth of nearly 6%. The proportion of the Willistons in relation to the total population remained constant at 0.27 per 100k between 2000 and 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #29,932 | #29,947 | -0.05% |
| Count | 740 | 784 | 5.95% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.27 | 0.27 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Williston
When it comes to ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census shows that the largest group of people with the surname "Williston" identify as White, although this percentage decreased slightly from 77.16% in 2000 to 73.72% in 2010. There was also a sizeable portion of American Indian and Alaskan Native representation among the Willistons, which slightly increased from 11.08% in 2000 to 11.22% in 2010. There were notable increases in the groups identifying as Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, and those of two or more races. The most significant increase was seen in the Hispanic demographic, which rose from 0.68% in 2000 to 1.53% in 2010 - a whopping change of 125%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 77.16% | 73.72% | -4.46% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 11.08% | 11.22% | 1.26% |
| Black | 5.95% | 7.4% | 24.37% |
| Two or More Races | 4.19% | 4.97% | 18.62% |
| Hispanic | 0.68% | 1.53% | 125% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.95% | 1.15% | 21.05% |