Williams
A classic patronymic surname meaning “son of William,” and one of the most common names in Wales and the English-speaking world.
The #3 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 190 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Williams is a patronymic surname built from the given name William, with the plural-like ending -s meaning “son of” or “belonging to.” In other words, it originally meant “William’s child” or “descendant of William.” The personal name William comes from Old Germanic elements meaning roughly “will, desire” + “helmet, protection.”
History
The surname became especially common in Wales, where hereditary surnames often developed from patronymics based on a father’s forename. By the 19th century, writers on surnames were already noting that Williams was among the most frequent surnames in England and Wales, and especially widespread in the Welsh counties. It later spread broadly through Britain, North America, and other English-speaking regions.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In 19th-century discussions of Welsh surnames, Williams was often cited as one of the best-known examples of a very common patronymic name.
From the historical record
“WILLIAMS, William's (Sou) "1 WILLIAMSON, William's Son J WILLICOMBE = Wellicombe, q.v. William. Willie WILLIE I = Will',', q.v. + the N.E. and Scot,”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)Notable people named Williams
- Robin Williams (1951–2014)
- Serena Williams (b. 1981)
- Tennessee Williams (1911–1983)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.