The Willoughby surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 16,111 people carried this name — #2,257 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 18,300 people counted. That is up 3% from 15,622 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Willoughby surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘of Willoughby’.

An early record he cites: Henry de Wiluby, Buckinghamshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 815 · public domain.

In the Nordic population registers

25 people named Willoughby is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 25

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Willoughby was found among the farmers of 2 counties.

It was most frequent in Cornwall: 9 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 1,111. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Cornwall 9
Berkshire 7

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

44 families named Willoughby, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 225 people lived in those households, 5.1 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 4 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Maryland 10
Connecticut 9
New Hampshire 7
North Carolina 6
New York 5
Virginia 4
Vermont 3

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 268 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Willoughby in American newspapers,
1906–1907.

Newspaper page from The Birmingham Age-herald carrying the name Willoughby
The Birmingham Age-herald 1906-05-13
Newspaper page from The Montgomery Advertiser carrying the name Willoughby
The Montgomery Advertiser 1906-05-18
Newspaper page from The Loup City Northwestern carrying the name Willoughby
The Loup City Northwestern 1907-05-09

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 2,120 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Willoughby in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

30,749 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Willoughby. The most, 6,563, date from the 1910s.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 11,954
Victoria 6,488
South Australia 3,884
Queensland 3,581
Western Australia 2,928
Tasmania 1,566
ACT (Canberra) 251

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Willoughby.

Who carried it

People named Willoughby,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Maria Willoughby
    Maria Willoughby d. 1939 · cat breeder
  • John Willoughby
    John Willoughby d. 1812 · Christian minister
  • Thomas Willoughby d. 1418 · politician
  • George Willoughby d. 1550 · politician
  • George Willoughby d. 1695 · politician
  • Edward Willoughby d. 1508

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Willoughby,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,167 records

1,167 records of the Willoughby name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 562
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 232
  • Other U.S. records 373
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Bryan Willoughby

    Born 1913 in Oklahoma. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Macarthur San Pedro, California; surveyor. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1990, buried at Riverside National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Richard Eugene Willoughby

    Born 1930; from Long Island City, New York. U.S. Marine Corps; killed in action 1950 in Korea. Buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Elizebeth Willoughby

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the Gallia from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 26; nurse maid. From Plymouth, England.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,167 records for Willoughby in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia722 records

722 records of the Willoughby name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 380
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 177
  • Other Australian records 165
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record William John Willoughby

    Born 1880 in Campbell Town, Tasmania. Married 1907 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 26.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record George Willoughby

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Henry, arriving 1823; ticket of leave 1829.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Jessie Willoughby

    Arrived in Victoria in 1857 aboard the Marco Polo, aged 2; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 722 records for Willoughby in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada74 records

74 records of the Willoughby name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 24
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 21
  • Other Canadian records 29
  1. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Betsy Willoughby

    Left New York in 1783 aboard the Friends, bound for Halifax, aged 21.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Henriette Willoughby

    Buried in 1991 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 102.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Frank Willoughby

    Buried in 1980 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 67.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.

Showing 3 of 74 records for Willoughby in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom25 records

25 records of the Willoughby name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 20
  • Welsh wills index cards 3
  • Other British records 2
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Laura Willoughby

    Will proved in 1933; of Pwllheli, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Percy Willoughby

    Died 1916. Named in the roll of honour (1926).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record J. Willoughby

    Lincolnshire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 25 records for Willoughby in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand20 records

20 records of the Willoughby name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 13
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 4
  • Other New Zealand records 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Willoughby

    Died 1936, aged 62; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Bartley William Transvaal Willoughby

    Died 1985, aged 75; buried at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Leslie George Willoughby

    Died 1982; ashes interred at Kaiapoi Public Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 20 records for Willoughby in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Ireland1 record

1 record of the Willoughby name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Bernard Digby Willoughby

    Died 1997, aged 100; buried at Salrock, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands1 record

1 record of the Willoughby name in the Netherlands Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Daniel Willoughby

    Married in 1945 in Amersfoort.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Willoughby.

When the index is not enough

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A volume says what happened to it.

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