Origin of the Name
William, as a first name, is Germanic in origin and is a combination of the words for "will"
or "resolve" and "helmet" as "Willhelm". The
name was "normanised" in the 11th Century and was, naturally, spread throughout the realm
by the ruling classes after the Norman
conquest in 1066, and its surname derivatives are quite common. However, the singular William as a surname
is very rare. Unlike the
name Roger or Richard, William had only one abbreviation (Wil or Will) as "Bill" was not in
use at this time.
Williams means "son of William" i.e. William's son. It is widespread throughout England south
of Lancashire and Lincolnshire and very
common in Wales (about 70% of its yeomen in Guppy's time), its borders and in Cornwall. It was the third
commonest name in
England and Wales in 1853 and is still the 5th commonest in London (after Smith, Jones, Brown and Taylor);
4th in USA in 1939. The
name is related to "Williamson" with obvious origins.
In curious contrast with Williams, but an even odder resemblence to "Wilkinson" (Wilkin is
a diminutive of Will i.e. "little Will") it is a
very northern name with offshoots in Salop (Shrewsbury area), Staffordshire and Buckinghamshire. It
is common in Scotland and
found as far noth as Shetland; the 74th commonest name in Scotland in 1958.
Definition: 1) Son or descendant of Guillemin, a pet form of Guillaume, the French form of William. 2) From the Belgic "guild-helm," harnessed with a gilded helmet or "welhelm," the shield or defense of many. 3) Derived from the given name "William," an Old French given name with Germanic elements: wil = desire, will; and helm = helmet, protection.
Surname Origin: Norman
Alternate Surname Spellings: WILLIAM, WILLIMON, WILLIMAN, WILLIAMSON
The Family Motto
May all the Descendants of Williams
Uphold and Bear with Pride
The Lion of Williams
" The Lion is a livery portrait of a good soldier,
who must be valorous of courage, strong of
body, politic in council and a foe to be feared.
The Lion is a badge of deathless courage. "
From a email posting dated 10/17/2002
Motto of the Williams Arms.-The transcription of the Welch moto in the coat-of-arms attributed to Robert Williams of Roxbury, in the "Williams Genealogy," is incorrect.
"Y fyno dwy y fydd" can only read, What two (women, cows, in fact anything feminine) will, will be. Not wishing to keep the family any longer in the guise of an upholder of such widely extended female suffrage, I would suggest that for the feminine numeral dwy (two), they substitute the proper word Duw (God), when Welch and English will agree in "Y fyno Duw, y fydd;" What God willeth, will be.
Wilkesbarre,Pa. Edward H Williams, Jr.