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Willa Family History

Willa Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Villa, Will, Walla, Lilla, Willy, Wills, Pilla, Wille, Silla, Milla

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Willa family from?

You can see how Willa families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Willa family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Willa families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 14 Willa families living in Ontario. This was about 33% of all the recorded Willa's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Willa families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Willa surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Willa ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Willa. 24% of Willa men worked as a Laborer and 12% of Willa women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Willa were Truck Driver and Waitress.

View Census Data for Willa | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    24%
  • Farmer
    21%
  • Farming
    7%
  • Truck Driver
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    12%
  • Housekeeper
    12%
  • New Worker
    9%
  • Waitress
    9%

What Willa family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Willa. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Willa census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Willa

Passenger Lists

There are 554 immigration records available for the last name Willa. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Willa immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 217 military records available for the last name Willa. For the veterans among your Willa ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Willa military records

You've only scratched the surface of Willa family history

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What is the average Willa lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Willa life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Willa in 1948 was 45, and 84 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Willa

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Willa ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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