Surname Willums - Meaning and Origin
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Willums: What does the surname Willums mean?
The origin of the last name Willums is uncertain, however scholars believe it may be a corruption of the German-language surname "Wilhelm." It is believed that the name originated from the Old German first name Willehalm, composed of the elements "willo" meaning "desire" and "helm" meaning "helmet or protection." This combination conveys the idea of "desire for protection." The original bearer of this name may have been someone who sought protection from enemies or rivals.
The name Willums is mainly found in English speaking countries such as America, Australia and the UK where records of the surname date back to the early 18th century. In the US, the earliest record of the name was found in Massachusetts in the year 1775. In England, it was found from around the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066 and was common in the counties of Wiltshire, Northumberland and Devon.
In modern times, the name Willums is most commonly associated with people of British and Irish descent, although it is popular in other countries around the world. It typically carries a positive connotation of strength, safety and resilience, while also conjuring up images of protection and being well-defended. Ultimately, the meaning of the name Willums in any language or country is one of endurance, fortitude and strength.
Order DNA origin analysisWillums: Where does the name Willums come from?
The last name Willums is quite common in several countries around the world. In the United States it is particularly concentrated in the Great Lakes region, including the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Ohio. In Germany, Willums is one of the most common surnames, particularly in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria. In France, it is also relatively common and is found largely in the north and east of the country. In South America, Willums is found particularly in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile.
Willums is also very common in Scandinavian countries, such as Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. It is also found frequently in Britain, Ireland, and the Netherlands. In Australia and New Zealand, Willums is also quite popular.
Interestingly, Willums is also one of the most common surnames in Iceland. This is believed to be due to Iceland's many Viking settlers, who bore the name when they arrived on the island in the early 11th century.
It seems that over the centuries, the name Willums has spread far and wide and become popular in many different countries and cultures around the world.
Variations of the surname Willums
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Willums are Willems, Willems, Willemsz, Willemsen, Willemsma, Wilcken, Wilkens, Wilkenson, Wils, Wilz, and Willemse.
The origin of the surname Willums is Dutch and is derived from the personal name Willelm, a variant of the name Wilhelm, of Germanic origin, composed of the elements “wil” meaning “will” or “desire” and “helm” meaning “helmet” or “protection”. The name was ultimately associated with the Latin name “Gulielmus”.
The surname Willums was popular among Dutch and Flemish immigrants that settled in England, Scotland, Ireland and the United States from the late 17th century onwards. It is a very common surname in the Low Countries and among descendants of their immigrants today.
Some of its variants have been anglicized; for example, Willemse has been anglicized to Willems or Willey. Meanwhile, its spelling has been adopted in different regions and different phonetic environments. Willems can also be spelled Willimse, Wilimse and Wyllemse, depending on where it spread to. Wilcken is a Dutch variant of the surname and Wilkenson is an English variant.
Variants such as Willemsz and Willemsen are patronymic surnames that indicate descent from a male ancestor bearing the personal name Willem. Willemsma and Wils are diminutive forms of Willem and indicate “son of”.
The surname Willums is a popular surname throughout the world, with numbers of people from multiple countries being able to trace their lineage back to the Low Countries.
Famous people with the name Willums
- Jean William Régis Moncion (known as Jean Willums), French-Canadian actor and comedian
- Stephan Willums, German footballer and manager
- Chloë Willums, Australian actress
- Patrice Willums, French sprinter
- Jakob Willumsen, Danish painter and sculptor
- Eddie Willums, American NFL player
- Julius Willumsen, Icelandic television presenter
- Elisabeth Willumsen, Danish scholar and feminist
- João César Monteiro Willums, Portuguese air force officer and military commander
- Stig Willumsen, Danish businessman and former politician