Williams
Williams is a patronymic form o the name William that oreeginatit in medieval Ingland[1] an later came tae be extremely popular in Wales. The meanin is derived frae son or descendant o Guillemin, the French form o William. Derived frae an Auld French gien name wi Germanic elements; will = desire, will; an helm = helmet, protection.[2] It is the seicont maist common surname in Wales an the third maist common surname in the whole o the Unitit Kinrick,[3] the third maist common in the Unitit States o Americae an Australie an the fift maist common in New Zealand.[4]
Earliest uisage[eedit | eedit soorce]
The earliest recordit uise o the surname;
- in the form o Willam is frae 1279 in Oxfordshire,[5]
- in the form o William is frae 1299 in Whitby, Yorkshire,[1]
- in the form o Williames is frae 1307 in Staffordshire.[6]
Notes[eedit | eedit soorce]
- ↑ a b Reaney & Wilson p.493
- ↑ "WILLIAMS - Surname Meaning | Origin for the Surname Williams Genealogy". Archived frae the original on 29 Januar 2009. Retrieved 6 Februar 2011.
- ↑ British surnames
- ↑ Unitit 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[eedit | eedit soorce]
- PH Reaney & RM Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames:The Standard Guide to English Surnames, Oxford University Press, 1995, ISBN 0-19-863146-4.