Williams

Coat of Arms ~ Family Crests

~ Family Surname Origin ~

 

               

        

 

 

Williams

William is among the most commonly found Medieval given names, and as a result, is among the most common surnames. Williams is a patronymic form. 

William is derived from an Old French given name with Germanic elements wil = desire, will + helm = helmet, protection. 

It was introduced by followers of William the Conqueror and became in short order one of the most popular given names in England. Bill the Conqueror may have had an influence there... Variations are Welliam, Gilliam, Gillam, Gilham, Gillham Gillum. Cognate, diminutive, and other forms exist in great number.

 

Williams

 

Surnames based on the Christian name of the father are very common in English-speaking countries. Either the name is obvious (John William) or an "s" might be added, giving names like Williams.

 

 

William

A British patronymic name - "Will/resolve helmet" (Germanic Normanized); William the Conqueror.

William

Resolute protection < Germanic also Dutch Willem; German Wilhelm

 

William

 

 

 

Williams

• Roger Williams    1603? - 85    English clergyman; founded Rhode Island
• Tennessee Williams b. 1914    U. S. playwright

 

Williams

• Willemstad      A town on Curacao, capital of Netherlands Antilles
• Willesden        A municipal borough in Middlesex, England, NW of London

 

PRE-1600 ENGLISH NAMES: WILLIAMS

 

 

LATE 16^th CENTURY ENGLISH NAMES:  Williams

WELSH NAMES: WILLIAMS

Welsh surnames can be difficult to trace since, though patronymic, they were not always hereditary. William's son Hugh, for example, was Hugh Williams.

 

GERMAN SURNAMES: 

 

 

CLANS & FAMILIES OF SCOTLAND & IRELAND 
       "IVL" (indeterminate, various localities), which generally indicates that these families simply did not fall within the main Gaelic tribal sphere, either because they resided outside the Gaelic area, or else because they did not form a cohesive group with the level of real political significance common to the tribal and clan families listed.

 

SCOTTISH NAMES: WILLIAMS

 

 

MANX NAMES: (The Personal Names of the Isle of Man) - from a manorial roll collected in 1511-15 - Mac Will,  William, Ine William , Mac William, Williamson

 

 

WILLIAMS (GERMANY)

The Origin and History of... WILLIAMS

The "WILLIAMS" family name originated in northern Germany, located in Germany. The "WILLIAMS" family traces their ancestral roots back to Prussian origin.

 

WILLIAMS (GERMANY)

 

WILLIAMS (WALES)

The Origin and History of... WILLIAMS

The "WILLIAMS" family name originated in Breconshire , located in Wales. The "WILLIAMS" family traces their ancestral roots back to Welsh origin.

 

WILLIAMS (WALES)

 

WILLIAMS (WALES)

WILLIAMS Family References in the Harleian Manuscripts

The Harleian Manuscripts are records of the "Visitations" or, compilations of research done by heralds with regard to the backgrounds of English and Welsh families. These documents, compiled from about 1530 to the close of the 17th century, contain more than 30,000 registered family lineages, and are now housed in the British Museum in London, England.

The WILLIAMS family name was recorded in the following counties.  This information can be used as a starting point for further investigation into these records at the British Museum.

 

 

WILLIAMS (WALES)

The records of 244 Prestigious Castles and Majestic Homes have been examined to construct a database of thousands of families who originally owned, subsequently owned, were related by marriage, or were otherwise associated with these fine historic structures.

The WILLIAMS family can be genealogically linked with the following estates.

 

 

 

 

* * * * * *

 

 

 

 

Return to Crests Index

Return to Links Index

Return to Genealogy Index

Return to Home Page

E-Mail

 

 

 © Deborah Lunsford Yates, 2000 - 2005

Last Updated Saturday, October 15, 2005, 5:18:13 PM CST