Wilson last name: U.S. rank #14.
Wilson appears 777,275 times in the Census 2020 last-name table. Compare 2010 data, then narrow a search by full name and location.
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Wilson surname statistics
In the U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 last-name table, Wilson ranks #14 with 777,275 recorded occurrences. The table reports 260.05 occurrences per 100,000 in the population used for the Census surname analysis. These are aggregate decennial data, not a live directory or a count of people who have that surname today.
| Dataset | U.S. rank | Occurrences | Per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Census | #14 | 777,275 | 260.05 |
| 2010 Census | #14 | 801,882 | 271.84 |
How Wilson changed from 2010 to 2020
The 2010 Census table listed 801,882 Wilson occurrences at rank #14. By the 2020 table, the recorded count decreased by 3.1%. Its rank stayed at #14. This comparison describes a change between two Census tables; by itself it does not explain why the count or rank changed.
Compare Wilson with nearby surnames
Among the surname pages in this directory, nearby 2020 ranks include Lopez (#12, 878,958 occurrences), Gonzalez (#13, 828,405 occurrences), Anderson (#15, 756,560 occurrences), Thomas (#16, 734,345 occurrences). These links are useful for navigating the frequency table, but similar ranks do not imply that the names share an origin or that their bearers are related.
How to find a specific Wilson
Wilson is a top-50 surname, so many unrelated records can share the same last name. Start with the full name and add a location before comparing age ranges, relatives, or address history.
- Enter the full name. A first and last name is more useful than Wilson alone.
- Add a reliable place. Use a city or state the person is known to have lived in.
- Compare independent details. Look for agreement across age range, address history, relatives, education, or professional records.
- Do not treat one matching field as proof. A shared name or city can still point to the wrong person.
Use people search by state when the location is known, or follow the step-by-step name-search guide. If the name is incomplete, the broader people-search overview explains which details help narrow a result.
What the surname data can and cannot tell you
A Census surname row can describe national frequency. It cannot identify a particular person, prove a family relationship, establish the origin of an individual, or show where someone currently lives. Recordwell organizes returned records and public online signals for personal research, but important details should be checked against an independent record before you rely on them.
Recordwell is not a Consumer Reporting Agency. Do not use Recordwell reports for employment, tenant screening, credit, insurance, or another decision covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Data and methodology
The 2020 values come from the Census Bureau's top-1,000 last-name table and its 2020 last-name report. The comparison row comes from the 2010 surname table. Recordwell calculates the percentage change from the two published counts and reviews this page when the underlying dataset or methodology changes.
Narrow the name before choosing a match
Common surnames can return many unrelated people. Add a first name and location, then compare age range, relatives, and addresses before deciding which record belongs to the person you mean.
Start with context
Add a location or another known detail to reduce false matches.
Compare identifiers
Check multiple details together; no single field proves an identity.
Verify sensitive details
Confirm important claims independently before acting on them.
Primary data: check the published rank, count, and rate in the Census Bureau's 2020 last-name table and read the methodology report. The table is historical aggregate data; it cannot identify a person or provide a current population count.
Common questions
How common is the last name Wilson in the United States?
The U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 last-name table records 777,275 Wilson occurrences, rank #14, or 260.05 per 100,000 in the population used for the analysis.
Did Wilson become more or less common between 2010 and 2020?
The recorded count decreased by 3.1%, from 801,882 in 2010 to 777,275 in 2020. Its rank stayed at #14.
Does the Census count show how many people are named Wilson today?
No. It is an aggregate from the 2020 decennial Census surname table, not a real-time population register or a directory of identifiable people.
How do I find a specific person with the last name Wilson?
Start with the full name and a known city or state. Then compare several independent details, such as age range, address history, relatives, education, or professional records, before deciding that a result is the person you mean.
Can I use Recordwell for hiring or tenant screening?
No. Recordwell is not a Consumer Reporting Agency, and its reports may not be used for employment, tenant screening, credit, insurance, or other FCRA-covered decisions.
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