Willis Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Willis last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Willis last name
Meaning of the Willis last name: son of Will (William). Willis is usually a patronymic, "son of Will", from the short form of William, the most popular Norman personal name in England after the Conquest. In some families it is a topographic name for someone who lived by a spring, from Old English wiell. The surname is common in the south and west of England and was taken early to the American colonies. William was brought to England by the Normans and by the 13th century it was one of the most common men's names, with many pet forms such as Will, Willet, Wilkin and Wilcock, all of which gave surnames. The -is ending is typical of the south-west Midlands and Wales. Early bearers appear in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset and Devon. The spring sense, from Old English wiell, may lie behind families in Kent and Sussex. In Virginia, Willis families appear in the 17th century, and the name spread widely across the southern United States.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Willis name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Willis name in England. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Australia and Canada; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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The researched Willis pack traces meaning, early bearers and migration routes, and includes a personalized Willis coat of arms.
Willis name FAQ
What does the Willis name mean?
Son of Will (William). Common variants include Wills, Willes, Wyllis.
Where does the Willis surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a Willis coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Willis crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Willis coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.