Willis Family History, Genealogy & Ancestry

The Willis Family

9,975 Willis records from public death, burial and census records and the old county histories, in all 12 Midwestern states we cover. Every name is a real person in the public record, and we follow set rules to leave living people out (how).

9,975Records in our database

1830Earliest birth

3Documented families

1Biographies

See the Willis family trees →351 Willis families pieced together from public birth and death records, county histories and old newspapers

At a glance

9,975 Willis records in our database

From public death, burial and census records across 12 Midwestern states. We follow set rules to leave living people out (how). Tap a state or a decade to narrow the list of ancestors below.

Where

fewer more

When they were born

Most records: Missouri (2,927 of 9,975)
Most common birth decade: the 1910s
Earliest birth in the database: Hargaret Willis, born 1843, Whiteside County, Illinois
Earliest in the county histories: John Willis, born 1830

Most common first names

James266 John246 Mary234 William221 Robert210 Charles173 George138 Dorothy90 Helen89 Ruth85 Ralph79 Donald78

Documented families

Willis families we have traced

Written from county histories and public records, every fact cited. We follow set rules to leave living people out (how).

Family records from county histories (3)

Henry M. Willis 1852 to 1920Andrew County, MissouriStarts: Henry M. Willis (b. 1852)Most recent: A. A. Willis, Mae Cole Nathaniel WillisFayette County, OhioStarts: Nathaniel Willis, from Boston, MassachusettsMost recent: Fannie Fern, Nathaniel Parker Willis Rebecca A. Willis 1826 to 1899Starts: Rebecca A. Willis (b. 1826), from New YorkMost recent: Milo G. Silverthorn, Fannie M. Silverthorn (Mrs. Doscher), Flora Silverthorn (Mrs. Kingman)

The earliest Williss in the county histories

B. H. WillisBorn 1805Delaware County, Ohio James M. WillisBorn 1808Fayette County, Ohio William WillisBorn 1810, Smith CountyChild of Clark Willis and Nancy J. (Simpson) WillisDaviess County, Indiana Henry WillisBorn 1814Grundy County, Missouri Owen Thomas WillisBorn 1821, Culpepper countySaline County, Missouri Joseph M. WillisBorn 1829Pike County, Missouri

Family trees from the public record

351 Willis families: parents, brothers and sistersFrom state birth and death indexes, county histories and old newspapers, most recent deaths first

In old newspapers

19 Willis death notices, 1837 to 1925Obituaries and funeral notices from Midwest papers scanned by the Library of Congress, with the original pages

In the county history family index

28 Willis people in 21 countiesBirth years, birthplaces, parents and spouses, from the old county histories

Biographies from the county histories (1)

John WillisBorn 1830 · Stark County, Ohio

Done-for-you research

Trace your documented Willis family

Found your Willis? We trace your family back as far as the records go and write it up as a family history book, every source cited. No DNA test and no sales call: we take a free first look, then email you a plan and a flat price before you spend a dollar.

Common questions

Willis genealogy: FAQ

Where were Willis ancestors recorded?

Our database holds 9,975 Willis records from all 12 Midwestern states. The most are in Missouri (2,927), then Ohio (2,059) and Illinois (1,424).

How far back does the Willis family tree go?

The earliest Willis birth in our database is 1843: Hargaret Willis, Whiteside County, Illinois. The old county histories name John Willis, born 1830. We have pieced together 351 Willis family trees from public birth and death records.

Are living Willis family members listed here?

Not knowingly. We follow set rules to leave living people out of our public pages. If you find a living relative listed here, email us and we will take the record down.

Is this my Willis family?

Maybe. Many people share a name, so treat any match as a possible match until the dates and places line up with what you know about your family. Every person here links to their own page with the details, and we can trace your line for you.