Surname Wilday - Meaning and Origin
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Wilday: What does the surname Wilday mean?
The last name Wilday is derived from the Old English terms “wilde” and “ea.” The word “wilde” refers to woodland or an area that is wild and untamed, while the word “ea” describes a body of water or a stream. Together, the Old English name Wildea formed, which later evolved into Wilday.
Wilday is a fairly uncommon surname, with only a few recorded instances of its use. In England, records have been uncovered of a John Wilday, who was the municipal treasurer and surveyor of Boroughbridge in the year 1583. The exact origin of the Wilday name is unknown, but some speculate that it was a location-based surname formed by a family who once lived in a wooded area or near a wild stream.
Wilday may have also been an occupational surname for someone who worked in a woodland or who was involved in the manufacture of charcoal, as charcoal burning was a very popular and lucrative pastime in Medieval times. Wilday could also be a nickname for someone who was adventurous, brave, or wild in nature.
No matter where it originally came from, Wilday is a very unique and distinct name that is sure to bring much interest to anyone looking into their family history.
Order DNA origin analysisWilday: Where does the name Wilday come from?
The last name Wilday is considered of French origin due to its presence in Normandy. It is known to have been in use since the 12th century and is likely derived from the Old French words of "vildé," which means open ground, and "allee," which means path or roadway. It has seen an increase in popularity in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand in the last few decades.
Wilday is most commonly found today in Australia and the United States. In Australia, the name has gone through a few minor variations, such as Wild, Wildey, and Wyld. In the United States, Wilday is the most commonly seen spelling. It is mostly found in California and the Midwest. It's also seen in the southern and mountain states in small numbers.
Wilday is not a particularly common last name in Canada, but can be found in British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario. In British Columbia, it is reportedly of Scottish origin, while in all other provinces, it is considered of French origin.
In Europe, Wilday is mostly found in Britain, Ireland, and France. In Britain, it is most commonly seen in Scotland, while it can be found in other parts of the country in small numbers. It is also found in France and particularly in the Loire Valley and other parts of Normandy.
In New Zealand, the Wilday surname is thought to be of British origin, likely associated with the first settlers to the island. There are several families with the Wilday surname in the country today, mainly located in the North Island.
No matter where the Wilday surname is found today, it likely denotes ancestors of French origin who lived in Norman territory centuries ago.
Variations of the surname Wilday
The surname Wilday is believed to be of English, German and Scottish origin. There are a few variants, spellings and surnames of similar origin to Wilday.
The most common variants of Wilday are Wildey, Wilde, Wilda and Wilder. The spelling variations of Wilday include Wildy, Wildi, Wilady, Wildey, Wildie, Wyldey, Wyldie and Wyldy.
The German surname Wilder is also considered to be of the same origin as Wilday. Wilder is derived from the Middle High German wildeere, meaning 'hunter'.
The surnames Wildorff, Villard and Villatte are closely linked to Wilday. Wildorff is a German surname derived from the Middle High German wildorff, which means 'a wild boar keeper'. Villard and Villatte are French surnames derived from 'vil', which means 'village', and 'ard/atte', which means 'dweller' or 'descendant'.
Wilday is a fairly uncommon surname today and its variants, spellings and associated surnames are shared by only a few families.
Famous people with the name Wilday
- Avery Wilday: singer, songwriter, and actress.
- Kathryn Wilday: Broadway actress and dancer.
- John Wilday: British film and television actor.
- Rich Wilday: American heavy metal drummer.
- Angela Wilday: contemporary artist.
- Matthew Wilday: American fashion designer.
- Phillip Wilday: Professional Footballer.
- Gretchen Wilday: professional golfer.
- Rob Wilday: British fantasy author.
- Brooke Wilday- American equestrian rider.