Surname Wily - Meaning and Origin
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Wily: What does the surname Wily mean?
The last name Wily is of English origin, and is derived from an Old English word meaning 'resolute and brave'. This was commonly used to describe a brave or determined character, which is reflected in the modern meaning of 'wily', which is cunning and sly.
The name was typically passed from father to son and is most commonly found in the North West as a regional variation of the more widespread 'Wiley' which is of the same etymology. It was brought over to America from colonists in the 1700s, and is still relatively common in the US today.
The Wilys are believed to have originally come from Cornwall in the South West of England, and so they are likely to have had a mainly rural background. A common occupation that the Wilys may have had was that of a shepherd, with the rocky and rural terrain of Cornwall being well suited to the task.
The Wilys may also have been fishermen, using the sea to their advantage to hunt for herrings and other ocean-dwelling fish. These trades may have characterised the Wilys of the time, with a hardy and determined attitude to both farming and fishing.
Overall, the last name of Wily has a rich heritage of brave and resolute people. They were likely tough and hardworking, characteristics that the modern Wilys can be proud to have inherited.
Order DNA origin analysisWily: Where does the name Wily come from?
The last name Wily is of French origin. Today it can be found in France, particularly in the region of Normandy, as well as other European countries with large French-speaking populations such as Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxembourg. It is also found in North America, especially in Canada and the United States. The name is most common in the Northeastern United States, including New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. It is also prevalent in Canada, particularly in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
The Wily family is likely descended from the old French custom of adding the location of one's home village to one's surname. As a result, individual family members were often identified with the name of the village they originated from, such as Wily and Wilye. This tradition is still practiced among many French-Canadians today.
The Wily family name, while still relatively uncommon, continues to remain strong throughout Canada and many parts of Europe and North America. Due to its French roots, the last name is especially common amongst French Canadian families and can often be seen being passed down through generations.
Today, Wily continues to be an integral and recognizable part of many French-Canadian surnames. It may sometimes be seen hyphenated or combined with other French-Canadian family names, like Desjardins-Wily or Archambault-Wily. As a result of its strong French roots, the Wily family surname continues to be a respected and formidable part of French Canadian heritage.
Variations of the surname Wily
The surname Wily is an English spelling of the name, originating from the Old English word wile, meaning 'cunning'. Wily can also be spelt Wylie, Wyllie, Wiley, Wyley, Wyly, Wyli, and Willey.
The Irish variant Whelan is also related to the surname. It is derived from the Old Irish name O'Faoláin, which was originally O'h-Faoláin. This is a very ancient name that was used by the Uí Fhearaisan clan, which had its stronghold in southeastern Ireland. The O’ prefix was added to distinguish them from the unrelated MacFhlannchaidh family. Other Irish derivatives of Wily include Whelton, Whalon, Whalen, Whealan, Whealon and Whaliner.
The patronymic surnames of Wily include Wileman, Wilemtn, and Willman. These names emerged in the 1500s, when people began to take surnames based on their father's rather than their own given names.
In Scotland, Wyly is thought to derive from the Pictish name Uilleam, which was later anglicized to William. Other associated Scottish surnames include Wilie, Willy, Wyle, Wyley, Willeway and Wyllie.
The Scandinavian surname Willisen is a variation of Wily, although it is also common to other languages in the region such as Danish, Swedish and Norwegian.
Lastly, the German variants of the surname include Will and Wille, as well as the Polish surnames Zawili and Zawiley.
Famous people with the name Wily
- Dr. Albert Wily: a fictional character from the Japanese video game series Megaman, known as the primary antagonist.
- Jonathan Wily: a Paraguayan football midfielder who played for Newell's Old Boys.
- Barry Wily: a former soccer player in the National Soccer League.
- Willy Wily: an American actor known for his roles in The Boondocks and Friday. 5.bootsy Collins: an American musician and singer-songwriter, famously known as the bass guitarist and vocalist of the funk funk band Parliament-Funkadelic.
- Roy Wily: an American lawyer and politician who served as the first President of the World Bank.
- John Wily: a former Chairman of the British Liberal Democrats.
- Brad Wily: an American television producer, known for his roles on the sitcoms The Big Bang Theory and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
- Jeff Wily: a former professional ice hockey player.
- Baron Wily: a British peer and Conservative politician, also known for serving as an Ambassador to the United Nations.