Explore the Family Name Wilton
The meaning of Wilton
English: habitational name from any of various places so named, including Wilton (Wiltshire, North Yorkshire), Wilton in Haile (Cumberland), and Wilton in Bridstow (Herefordshire). The North Yorkshire placename derives from Old English wilde ‘wild, uncultivated’ + tūn ‘farmstead, estate’. The Wiltshire placename may derive from Old English wull ‘wool’ + tūn. The Cumberland and Herefordshire placenames derive from Old English wilig ‘willow’ + tūn.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Wilton in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname "Wilton" has experienced a slight decrease in popularity over a decade. In 2000, it ranked 9842 and increased to 10260 by 2010, making a change of -4.25%. However, there was a small increase in the count of people with this name from 3029 to 3141, a change of about 3.7%. The proportion per 100k also decreased from 1.12 to 1.06, showing a -5.36% change.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #9,842 | #10,260 | -4.25% |
| Count | 3,029 | 3,141 | 3.7% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.12 | 1.06 | -5.36% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Wilton
The ethnic identity associated with the surname "Wilton" has seen varied changes between 2000 and 2010, as per the Decennial U.S. Census data. The number of Asians/Pacific Islanders with the surname Wilton saw a significant increase of 102.78%, while those identifying with two or more races increased by 22.78%. The count of White individuals with this surname declined slightly by -2.74%. The Hispanic population with this surname also saw a minor decrease of -5.13%. The Black community with this surname showed a substantial increase of 32.38%, as did the American Indian and Alaskan Native group with an increase of 45.65%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 88.28% | 85.86% | -2.74% |
| Black | 5.22% | 6.91% | 32.38% |
| Hispanic | 4.09% | 3.88% | -5.13% |
| Two or More Races | 1.58% | 1.94% | 22.78% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.36% | 0.73% | 102.78% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.46% | 0.67% | 45.65% |
Wilton ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Wilton is British & Irish, which comprises 51.5% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (24.8%) and Italian (5.1%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Scandinavian, Spanish & Portuguese, Greek & Balkan, and Indigenous American.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 51.5% |
| French & German | 24.8% |
| Italian | 5.1% |
| Other | 18.6% |
Possible origins of the surname Wilton
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Wilton have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 82.30% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 82.30% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 82.30% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 82.30% |
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 82.30% |
What Wilton haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Wilton is R-DF88, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-DF88 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-CTS241 and J-L26, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Petrie, Mansell, Killian, Dykes, Batchelder, Picard, Ellsworth, Andrew, Gunn, Sherman.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Wilton surname are: H1, J1c, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Wilton have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Wilton" Surname 54.1%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Wilton" Surname 28.1%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Wilton" Surname 14.3%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Wilton" Surname 12.8%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Wilton?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Wilton are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition