Surname Willes - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Willes: What does the surname Willes mean?
The last name Willes is of English origin and dates back to the pre-medieval era. It is an occupational surname derived from the Old English term “wealh”, which means foreign, and “hus”, which means house. It is likely that the the initial bearer of this name was a foreign servant or guest.
The surname itself has been found mentioned in early documents such as the Domesday Book of 1086 in its Latin form, Villaes, suggesting that it could have been brought to Britain by the Normans.
Willes and its variants, including Wiles and Willish, are found throughout the English-speaking world. In the 1881 British census, the surname was found chiefly in Oxfordshire, but it is also present in counties such as Worcestershire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire.
Willes is a patronymic surname, so it provides an indication of the given name of an ancestor. In this case, the surname references William; popular diminutives of William in the Middle Ages included Will, Willa, Willard, Willy and Wyle. As such, the surname Willes is a representation of the great legacy left behind by its earliest bearers.
Order DNA origin analysisWilles: Where does the name Willes come from?
The last name Willes is found mainly in the United Kingdom and the United States. In the United Kingdom, the surname is most commonly seen in the south of England and Wales, particularly in Surrey, Hampshire, Warwickshire, Glamorgan, Buckinghamshire, Kent, and Devon. In the United States, it is more widespread across the country, though the greatest concentrations are in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts are some of the states that seem to have the most Willes families.
The surname also appears frequently across other English-speaking countries such as Australia and Canada. In Australia, the largest concentrations of Willes are in New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria. In Canada, the main concentrations are in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The surname is also found in countries such as New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, and Jamaica.
Due to its origins in England, Willes is a common surname. The name is likely derived from an old Celtic term, either meaning willow grove or "will" or "strength". It is often found in records from the Middle Ages and continues to be used in various places around the world today.
Variations of the surname Willes
Variants of the surname Willes include Wille, Will, Wells, Willey, Willet, Willets and Willetson. Spellings of the name that might be seen in historical records include Will, Willes, Wills, Willys and Wylls, as well as William and Williamson. Surnames derived from Willes form the wider family of Willet. Variations of this surname include Willett, Willit, Willits, Willrett, Willets and Willetson.
The surname Willes is thought to have originated in England. The name is typically of Norman French or Old German roots, and most likely derives from the given name Giles, or from any of the various forms of the first name William. In Norman French, ‘giles’ would translate to either ‘will’ or ‘gill’, meaning a ‘resolute protector’, although in some cases the name may come from a diminutive form of William, or a nickname based on ‘willful’.
The first record of the use of the surname Willes in England dates back to the 13th century, with the Essex parish register recording one Willelmus de Wilvele in 1273. By the 18th century, the name had spread through most of England and Wales, with different spellings and variants being discovered in many books of historical records.
The main spelling of Willes is still the most common form of the name today, although with less emphasis on traditional surnames in favour of more modern variations, it is likely that many more variants of this family name will be discovered in the future.
Famous people with the name Willes
- Anton Willes: British actor
- Bianca Willes: British singer
- Charles Willes: American sportscaster
- Clare Willes: BritishPlaywright
- Simon Willes: British Actor
- Matt Willes: American Ice Hockey Player
- William Willes: British Actor
- Claudia Willes: American Actress
- Merton Willes: British Former Footballer
- Ann Willes: American Politician
- James Arthur Willes: American Lawyer
- Dolly Willes: British Actress
- Royce Willes: American Businessman
- Marjorie Willes: British Actress
- Jamie Willes: British Service Director
- Helen Willes: American Singer
- Emily Willes: British TV & Film Producer
- Robert Willes: American Artist
- Andrew Willes: British Climatologist
- Michael Willes: American Politician