Surname Willy - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Willy: What does the surname Willy mean?
The surname Willy is believed to have originated from the Old German personal name Willahelm meaning 'resolute protector', which was derived from two elements—'wil', meaning 'desire' or 'will', and 'helm', meaning 'helmet', 'protection', or 'defender'.
The surname Willy is found throughout Europe, with the highest concentration of those bearing the name found in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
The earliest records of the name date back to the 13th century, when one Geoffrey Willey, clerk, was recorded in 1279 in the Pipe Rolls of Taunton in the English county of Somerset.
Throughout history, many members of the Willy family have risen to prominence. Wilhelm Willy (1755-1820) was an Austrian flutist, whereas his contemporary, Johann Willy (1740-1820), was a distinguished German organist.
In more recent times, John Willy (1889-1962) was an American educator and college president, and while Rose Willy (1888-1962) was a Danish photographer and textile artist.
Today, the surname Willy is thought to be held by approximately 15,000 individuals worldwide, with the highest concentrations occurring in the United States, Germany, and Denmark.
Order DNA origin analysisWilly: Where does the name Willy come from?
Willy is a surname that originated in England and has spread around the world throughout the centuries. It has become particularly common in France, where it is the eighteenth most common surname, and Germany, where it is the sixth most common surname. It is also especially popular in the Netherlands, Ireland, the United States, and Canada. In the United States, it is estimated to be the 950th most common surname, and in Canada, it is believed to be the 966th most popular surname.
This surname can be traced back to England, and its origins may be linked to the Old English given name William. ‘Willy’ is derived from the Old English ‘will’, meaning ‘will’ or ‘desire’. This surname is generally associated with strong-willed and determined people, hence its association with the given name William.
Willy has become a widespread surname, and as a result, it is fairly common today. It is most common in France, Germany, the United States, and Canada. It is also one of the more popular surnames in the Netherlands, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. With its origin in the Old English name William, Willy is likely to remain a widespread surname throughout the world for many years to come.
Variations of the surname Willy
The surname Willy has a range of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Willy is a short form of the name William, derived from the Germanic name Willehelm. Willy is also sometimes spelled as Willi, Willy, Willey, Willie, and Willye.
Variations of the name Willy include Devilly, Disley, Well, Wells, Will, Willa, Willette, Willey, and Willimont. Surnames with the same origin as Willy include Gwillym, Guillem, Wille, Willemet, Willems, Willett, Williamette, Williment, Willmot, and Willmott.
The surname Willy may be found in French records in the form of Guillem, derived from the Latin name Gulielmus, a form of William. In Ireland, the surname Willy may originate from the Irish names Uilliam, Uilliaim, and Wullam, all derived from the same Germanic root as William. The name has been variously spelled as Willam, Willan, Willand, Wullam, Wollam, Wulland, and Wolland.
Wiley, a variant of the name Willy, may be either a shortened form of William, or a delicious-sounding variation of the surname Wills. In Scotland, the name Willy may also be an anglicized form of the Gaelic MacIlleathain, meaning "son of the gray-haired one." Another variant of the name Willy is commonly found in Germany, in the form of Weller.
In South Africa, the surname Willy is also occasionally spelled as Wieler. In the Netherlands, the name could also be occasionally spelt Willem, derived from the Germanic name Willehelm. Other spellings of Willy include Wielie, Wilies, Willi, Wiler, Willies, Williamy, Willey, and Wilmmo.
Famous people with the name Willy
- Willy Wonka: The famous fictional character from Roald Dahl's classic novel and subsequent series of films.
- Jackie Wilson: An American rhythm and blues singer who had a successful career in both the United States and the United Kingdom in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Prince Royce: Dominican singer and songwriter, best known for his Latin-influenced Bachata and Tropical-influenced Top 40 hits.
- Nya Lee: Reality television personality and entrepreneur from the United States. She was a main cast member of the VH1 series, Love & Hip Hop: New York.
- Bobby Willy: British celebrity chef and British National Chef of the Year in 2017.
- Willy Baker: New Zealand footballer who represented his country in the national team as a goalkeeper.
- Willy Astor: German actor and musician, best known for his humorous monologues that have been recorded on numerous albums and performed live on stage.
- Joe Willy Wilkins: American country music singer and guitarist, best known for his recordings of "T For Texas" and "Lonesome Whistle".
- Willy Moon: New Zealand singer, songwriter and producer, best known for his 2012 single "Yeah Yeah".
- Willy Alonzo: Uruguayan composer and songwriter, best known for his salsa music and his collaboration with artists such as Celia Cruz, Marc Anthony, and others.