Surname Willet - Meaning and Origin
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Willet: What does the surname Willet mean?
The last name Willet is a variant of the French name Gilet, which itself is derived from the Latin term "gilla," meaning young goat. The Willet surname is a familiarized form of what was once a nickname. Variations of the Willet name include Willette, Willett, and Willits, among others.
Willet can be found as far back as the 1600s in England. During this time, the Willet family was known to be of Norman French origin, however, as the families migrated, they began to associate with other families of similar origin, and the name became widespread across the British Isles. In Scotland, Willet was found in the form of Willetson. It was there that the family acquired land and grew its wealth.
Today, the Willet name is most common in England and the United States. This can be attributed to the numerous immigrants who traveled to the states between the 18th and 19th centuries, such as the Willet and Willits families that originated from Devon, England in the mid-1700s.
The Willet family name today carries with it a flame of strength and perseverance, with many ancestors having come to find success and recognition. Notable Willets of today are artist, astrophysicist, and astronaut Anne Willets; the Reverend Carl M. Willets, pastor of Stonington Baptist Church in Connecticut; philanthropist Peter M. Willet of the University of San Francisco; and Nobel laureate Prof. Henry Willet, considered an authority on quantum theory and originator of the famous “Willet Method” of mathematics.
The Willet legacy is one that continues to be felt in both the present and the future, and is a testament to the strength of the family name.
Order DNA origin analysisWillet: Where does the name Willet come from?
The last name Willet is a fairly common last name in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It most likely has its roots in England and France, where it was a topographical name for someone living by an wooded area.
In the United States, the last name has been most common in the states of Vermont, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, each with over 1,000 people with the last name. Willet is also fairly popular in Alabama and New York. A search for the last name Willet in the US drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau showed that more than 20,000 people have this last name in the United States.
In Canada, the last name is particularly popular in the provinces of Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, according to a search on Insight Canada. The last name Willet is not as common in other parts of the world.
In the United Kingdom, Willet is much less popular than in the United States and Canada. It is likely that the last name originated from England and France but has since spread to other parts of the UK. A search for the last name Willet in the UK on 192.com revealed that only a few hundred people have this last name.
Overall, the last name Willet is most common in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, with fewer people having the last name in other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Willet
The surname Willet has several variants and cognates including Willett, Wuillet, Wyllet, Wylet, Wilet, Willetts, Willets, Wiletts, Willetts, Wuillot, Wyllet, Wylle, Willit, Willet and Willette.
The origin of the surname Willet is Middle English and derived from the Old French word "wil" which means “willow”. It was most likely used to denote someone from a place where willow trees grew or someone with characteristics associated with willows.
The surname is most common in England and occurs in various spellings such as Willits, Wilets, Willets, and Wylets. Willet is also common in other countries such as France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, and Canada.
The surname is particularly prevalent in the United States, where it ranks 9,778th among all surnames. Willet is also a common surname in South Africa, and ranks in the top 50 surnames there.
The spelling variations of Willet are often found in records throughout the centuries, making it difficult to trace a family's history accurately. The same is true of many other surnames, and researchers thus often have to delve into the various records in order to trace a family's descent.
Famous people with the name Willet
- Benjamin Willett: British Engineer, known for design and construction of watches and clocks in the 18th century.
- Jesse Willett: Professional Singer and Songwriter
- Ruth Willet: Olympic figure skater
- Kimberly Willett: Actress best known for roles in television soaps
- David Willet: Country Music Singer
- Donald Willet: Award-winning Latvian composer
- Jonathan Willet: American Voice Actor
- James Willet: Former English footballer
- Maxine Willett: Musician, Artist, and Producer
- Andrew Willet: British Poet and Writer
- George Willett: English Sculptor
- Peter Willet: Experimental Musician
- Piper Willet: Animal Rights Activist
- Jocelyn Willet: Canadian Painter and Art Critic
- Anthony Willet: British Politician
- Matthew Willet: Journalist, Weather Expert and Radio Host