Surname Wyllie - Meaning and Origin

Wyllie: What does the surname Wyllie mean?

The surname Wyllie is of Scottish origin and deemed to be a topographic name for someone who resided near a trap, which is derived from the Middle English word "wilie" meaning "trap". The term trap is employed in the sense of a hunting trap. Some scholars also believe that it are derived from a medieval English personal name, William, which was common after the Norman conquest of England in 1066. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation which came to be known as Poll Tax in England. Many variations of this surname exist due to an abundance of regional and dialectal differences, spelling variations, and the fact that the medieval scribes tended to spell words according to their sounds. Thus, the surname Wyllie is considered to be a variant of Willey, Wiley and Wylie. This name is widespread throughout Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Wyllie: Where does the name Wyllie come from?

The surname Wyllie is of Scottish origin, one of Scotland's many old family names that were established during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old English pre 7th Century "wilig," meaning "willow". The surname implies a person who lived by a willow tree or in a willow grove. The name then moved to Aberdeenshire, where the Wyllie family held a family seat from early times.

Today, the surname is most commonly found in Scotland, particularly in Aberdeenshire. However, due to historical emigration, it is also found in various forms in other English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Variations of the surname such as Wylie, Wilie, and Wiley can also be found in Scotland and other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Wyllie

The surname Wyllie originated in Scotland and references someone who lived in the borough of Willey in the county of Warwickshire. Over time, cultural and linguistic evolution influenced the spelling and pronunciation of this surname, resulting in multiple variations. Here are some of the common and less common spellings and variations of the surname Wyllie:

- Willey: This is a more direct spelling variant, and it is fairly common. It essentially substitutes the 'y' in Wyllie with an 'i', and dispenses with the second 'l'.

- Willie: This variant completely changes the 'y' in Wyllie to 'i', while keeping the double 'l'.

- Wylie: This is another common form of the surname. It substitutes the first 'l' in Wyllie with an 'i'.

- Wiley: This variant alters the second 'l' into an 'e', while keeping the first part of the surname intact.

- Wyly: Considered a less common variant, it changes the 'i' in Wyllie to 'y', forming 'Wyly'.

Many of these variants are used interchangeably and are considered by genealogists and family historians to refer to the same family lines. The variations primarily arose from the phonetic translations from Scottish to English during the Middle Ages.

Famous people with the name Wyllie

• Robert Wyllie: He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1845 to 1865.
• David Wyllie: He is a translator, artist, and teacher. His notable works include the translation of Franz Kafka's novel "The Trial" into English.
• W. J. Wyllie: William Lionel Wyllie was a prolific English painter of maritime scenes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Tom Wyllie: A professional footballer who played for a range of clubs including Newcastle United, Middlesbrough, and Fulham.
• George Wyllie: A renowned Scottish sculptor and artist, he is best known for his works on prominent public art.
• James Wyllie: A Scottish professional draughts player who held the World Title for fourteen years in the 19th century.
• Meg Wyllie: She was an American actress with a career spanning several decades, appearing in shows like Star Trek and The Twilight Zone.
• John Wyllie: A professional footballer who played for clubs such as Portsmouth and Gillingham.
• Kenny Wyllie: A Canadian curler and World Junior Champion.
• D’arcy Wyllie: He was a Canadian politician and a Senator from 1918 to 1949.
• Peter Wyllie: A well-known geologist credited with discovering a new type of rock known as "coesite".
• Andrew Wyllie: A British pathologist known for his work on cell death.

Other surnames

Wyllie.