About the Willet Surname

Looking for a Willet coat of arms? Arms were granted to families, not to surnames, and our research shows which heraldic tradition fits yours.

Family name meaning

Not every Willet is related, but the name itself grew out of Willett. The name is generally explained as “Little William”.

Willet drops the “t” of Willett, a simplification that clerks often made. Census takers and immigration officers often wrote what they heard. 1,501 Americans were listed as Willet in the 2010 census. That puts it among the top 25,000 US surnames. Willet sounds close to Wilt, so it can help to search both.

Want more than a summary? See the Willet family name pack.