Williams (surname)
| Pronunciation | /ˈwɪljəmz/ |
|---|---|
| Language(s) | English, Norman, and Italian |
| Origin | |
| Meaning | derived from Son of William |
| Region of origin | England, Wales, Cornwall, France, and Italy |
| Other names | |
| Variant form(s) | William, Willimon, Williman, Williamson, Wilhelm, Willems |
| Frequency Comparisons[1] | |
Williams is a common patronymic form of the name William that originated in medieval England, Wales, France, and Italy.[2]
The meaning is derived from son or descendant of William, the Northern French form that also gave the English name William. Derived from an Old French given name with Germanic elements; will = desire, will; and helm = helmet, protection.[3] It can be an Anglicised form of the Dutch surname Willems. It is the second most common surname in New Zealand; third most common in Wales and the United States and the fourth most common in Australia.[1][4]
Earliest recorded usage
[edit]- Willam is from 1279 in Oxfordshire.[5]
- William is from 1299 in Whitby, Yorkshire.[2]
- Williames is from 1307 in Staffordshire.[6]
See also
[edit]- List of people with surname Williams
- Williams baronets
- Williams family of Caerhays and Burncoose
- Willyams
References
[edit]- ^ a b Williams given name at Forebears
- ^ a b Reaney & Wilson p.493
- ^ "The Meaning and Origin of the Surname Williams Archived 2009-01-29 at the Wayback Machine"
- ^ United States Census Bureau (9 May 1995). s:1990 Census Name Files dist.all.last (1-100). Retrieved on 25 February 2008.
- ^ Reaney & Wilson p.493, sourced from the Rotuli Hundredorum 1812, 1818
- ^ Reaney & Wilson p.493, sourced from the Staffordshire Assize Rolls
- PH Reaney & RM Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames:The Standard Guide to English Surnames, Oxford University Press, 1995, ISBN 0-19-863146-4.
