Williams (surname)
Williams is a 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 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]
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 |
Frequency Comparisons[1] |
Earliest usage
The earliest recorded use of the surname;
See also
- List of people with surname Williams
- Williams baronets
- Williams family of Caerhays and Burncoose
- R. H. Williams (disambiguation)
Notes
- Williams Surname at Forebears
- 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.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.