Williams (surname)
| Pronunciation | Williams |
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Word/name | English, Norman |
| Meaning | derived from Son of William |
| Region of origin | England, Wales, Cornwall, France |
| Other names | |
| Related names | William, Willimon, Williman, Williamson |
| Frequency Comparisons[1] | |
Williams is a patronymic form of the name William that originated in medieval England and Wales[2] and later came to be extremely common in Wales. 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 is the second most common surname in New Zealand; third most common in Wales and the United States and fourth most common in Australia.[1][4]
Earliest usage
The earliest recorded use of the surname;
- in the form of Willam is from 1279 in Oxfordshire,[5]
- in the form of William is from 1299 in Whitby, Yorkshire,[2]
- in the form of Williames is from 1307 in Staffordshire.[6]
See also
- List of people with surname Williams
- Williams baronets
- Williams family of Caerhays and Burncoose
- R. H. Williams (disambiguation)
Notes
- ^ a b Williams Surname at Forebears
- ^ a b Reaney & Wilson p.493
- ^ WILLIAMS - Surname Meaning | Origin for the Surname Williams Genealogy
- ^ 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
References
- PH Reaney & RM Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames:The Standard Guide to English Surnames, Oxford University Press, 1995, ISBN 0-19-863146-4.