This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of William,' from nick. Will, and suffix -cock (v. Cocks); compare Jeffcock, Simcock, &c.

Wilecoc Rossel, Devon, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Ricardus Wilkokson, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Adam Wylkokson, 1379: ibid.

Radulfus Wylcok, 1379: ibid.

Willelmus Wilkocson, 1379: ibid.

1526-7. Lawrence Hillis and Wynefred Wylcoks: Marriage Lic. (London).

1576. Baptised — John, s. Robert Wylecockes: St. Michael, Cornhill.

1617. William Wilcock, of Flixton: Wills at Chester.

1666. Richard Wilcoxen .(Cheshire) and Eleanor Starkey: Marriage Lic. (Faculty Office).

This name is a double diminutive of William, which see. A family of this name were seated at Rathobyres in Midlothian from the beginning of the fourteenth century, and the name early found a home in Fife. David Wilke witnessed a notarial instrument at Pitcairn, Fife, in 1495 (Laing, 223), William Wilkie was member of an assize in Edinburgh in 1529, James Wilke was bailie of the burgh of the Canongate in 1561, and John Wilky was member of council of Edinburgh in 1580 (MCM., II, p. 96,285, 288). Catharine Wilkie is recorded in Dysart in 1541 (Dysart, p. 7), James Wilkie was tenant of Newbattle Abbey in 1563 (Neubotle, p. 330), Mr. James Wilke was principal of Sanct Saluatour Colleage, St. Andrews, 1574 (Mill, Plays, p. 285), and the accounts of the baillies of the ourgh of Lanark were rendered to Exchequer by William Wilkie, burgess there, in 1591 (ER., XXII, p. 172). Robert Wilkie was prior of the Isle S. Serf in Lochleven in 1599, Archibald Wilkie was member of an assize in the Cannongait in 1602 (Trials, II, p. 397), and Thomas Wilkie was schoolmaster in Selkirk in 1627 (MCM., II, p. 49). Vilke 1515, Weilkey 1654, Weilkie 1649, Vilkey.

'Son of Wilkin,' which see. John Wylkynson or Wilkinsoune was a resident of Vddynston in 1498 (REG., 478,479), Schir William Wilkinsone had a special respite and protection in 1504 (Trials, I, p. 42), and Robert Wylkynsone was vicar of Ardrossan in 1537 (LCD., p. 100). From this comes Macquilkan, a name met with in Kintyre.

Frum Old German Willihelm. The name, is found in 1317 (Peebles, 6). Adam, the Conqueror. For centuries in England it and John have raced for first place in popularity. It has been the source of a vast number of surnames in Britain and on the continent, and gave name to one of Scotland's early kings, William the Lion (1165-1214). In Orphir it is pronounced Wullock, in Evie and Rendall Willo, and in Stromness Willa.

WILLICOCK: Another form of Willock, which see. Adam Willicok was admitted burgess of Aberdeen in 1578 (NSCM., I, p. 73), and Alexander Willicok in Fechill was bewitched in 1597 (SCM., I, p. 132). Patrick Willicok, son of Alexander Willicok, was burress of Aberdeen, 1603, and Alexander Wilicok is recorded in Ellon in 1606 (RSCA., II, p. 35, 84). Willecok c. 1500.

(English and Anglo-French-Teut.) Beloved Helm(et, i.e. Protector [for the first elem. see under Willer, and + Old Teutonic helm, as in Old English, Old Frisian, Old Saxon and O.H.Ger. helm = Old Norse hjálm-r = Gothic hilm-s] Although Wilhelm is given in the A.-Saxon genealogies as being the name of a great-great-grandfather of the early- 7th-cent. English Angl. king Rædwald, and Willelm was an 11th-cent. bishop of London, the name was not common among the A.-Saxons; and William owes its popularity in this country to the first two post - Conquest rulers, who are referred to in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as Willelm (‘Willelm cyng’). The Old Ger. forms were Willihelm (mod. Wilhelm) and Willehalm = O.Norse Uilhjálm-r (mod. Vilhelm) = Dutch Willem. Froissart has Guillaumes (‘Guillaumes de Gauville’), with nom, suff. -s; and this is the form used in the 13th cent. by de Joinville (‘Guillaumes de Bouon’) and his contemporary Jehan Sarrazin (‘Guillaumes Longue Espee quens [count] de Sales- bieres en Engleterre’). In‘Raoul de Cambrai’ (ed. Soc. des anciently textes franç.) the form is Willaume. In the “chanson de geste" ‘Aliscans’ we find ‘ Li quens Guillames. Guillaume IX, Duc d’Aquitaine (d. a.d. 1127), who wrote poems (preserved) in the Provençal language, was called Guillem. The 11th-cent. poem describing the ‘Voyage de Charlemagne à Jérusalem, &c.’ has ‘ Guillelmes d’Orenge’; the ‘Chanson de Roland,’ ‘Willalme de Blaive.’ The L.Latin forms were Willelmus(as in Domesday-Book), Willem- us, and Guillelmus.

Tho [when] Willam bastard hurde telle of Haraldes suikelhede [treachery].—Rob. Glouc. Chron., 7332.

For what thing Wiliam wan a day with his bowe, Were it fethered foul, or foure foted best, Ne wold this William never on with hold to himselve.—William and the Werwolf p. 8.

It had bene better of William a-Trent To have bene abed with sorrowe.— Robin Hood & Guy of Gisborne, 77-8.

Guillaume is very common in France as a surname as well as Christian name; and it has numerous derivatives.

The first of the above two facsimiles is from the Sussex Domesday-Book. The second, reproduced from Lower’s ‘Handbook for Lewes’ (ed. 1855), is from an inscription on a leaden coffin believed to date from a I3th-cent. reinterment of the remains of Wiilliam de Warenne, founder of Lewes Priory c. 1078: the curl at the end of the name is the usual mediæval contraction representing -us.

This numerous north Ulster name (usually there with terminal S) is not a variant of Fitzwilliam (which is a rare name found in south-east Leinster) but is that of a branch of the Scottish clan MacFarlane.

MacWilliam has also been used as a synonym of MacQuillan in Co. Down

(English) Descendant of William (resolution, helmet).

I have not met with this as a surname, but it has become the parent of a greater number of surnames than any other baptismal appellation. The following are the chief derivatives:-Fitz-Williarn, Mac-William, Ap-William, Williams, Williamson, Wills, Willes, Wilks, Wilkes, Wilkin, Wilkins, Wilkie, Wilkinson, Wickens, Wickeson, Wickerson, Willson and Wilson, Willcock and Wilcocke, Willcocks, Woolcock, Wilcox, Wilcockson, Wilcoxon, Willet, Willott, Willatts, Wilmot, Willmott, Willomat, Willy and Willey, Wille, Willis. Also Bill, Bilson, and Billson. An old provincial nickname of William is Till,-whence Tilson, Tillott, Tllotson, Tilly, and Tillie. Guilliam, Gilliam, Guillim, Gillett, Gillott, and Gilliat are also from this fecund source, as well as numerous continental surnames, which, though found in our directories, can hardly as yet be reckoned as naturalized amongst us.

From Will, and cock, which signifies, little. Will's son, Williamson. "A willcock,"one rather obstinate.

The son of Wilkins.

From the Belgic Guild—helm, harnessed with a gilded helmet; or, as others say, from Welhelm, the shield or defense of many.

Wilkinson. —This name is almost entirely confined to the northern half of England, as defined by a line drawn west from the Wash. It is best represented in Northumberland, Durham, Yorkshire, and Lancashire, and is also fairly numerous in Notts, Lincolnshire, and Cheshire. Its absence or scarcity in the south of England is but poorly compensated for by Wilkins.

The surname Williams sometimes means the same as Williamson, while it sometimes denotes other dependants-servants, daughters, wives, and so on. All come from the first name William. This name is of Old Germanic origin, coming originally from the name Willahelm. This is formed from the words ‘wilja’ meaning ‘will’ and ‘helm’ meaning ‘protection’. Thus the name was probably first given as a kind of talisman of hoped-for traits.

As the Old German name spread, it became Normanised to Willelm. (In French it also became Guillaume, and as such gave rise to the English name Gillam). Compare Gaulter, Gautier for Walter, under Watson.

Following the Norman Conquest, William quickly became the most popular first name in the land, only being superseded by John in the middle of the twelfth century. Since then it has remained as one of our most popular first names, and has been the name of four kings. (Only Edward, Henry and George are more popular royal names.) As one might expect, this popular first name gave rise to a number of diminutives and variations. Most of these have spawned their own variant surnames. Thus the diminutive Wylymot gives the surname Wilmot, and Willet and Willot arise similarly. The diminutive Wilkin gives Wilkins and Wilkinson, and the shortened form Will (for many years the most popular pet version, as in Will Shakespeare) gives us Wills and Wilson.

The name Williams is widespread throughout the land, but has special popularity in Wales. At the end of the last century one in every fourteen Welsh farmers was called Williams.

The earliest mention of Williams as a surname appears in the Domesday Book. Here in the records for 1086 one Robertus filius Willelmi is mentioned.

Ellen Cicely Wilkinson (1891—1947) was an English politician, labour organiser and suffragette who led the famous 1936 ‘Jarrow Crusade’ as MP for the northern town of Jarrow, whose shipyard had been closed down in the Depression. Thousands of unemployed Geordies marched to London in a fruitless bid to obtain help from the government. Ellen Wilkinson died in office as Minister of Education, the first woman to hold that post.

One Williams has been Lord Mayor of London: Sir John Williams (1735).

William Carlos Williams (1883—1963) was one of America’s greatest twentieth-century poets. In an era when Bohemian exile was the rule, Williams was an exception. As a home-town family doctor, his influential verse mirrored this practical streak and his love of everyday events.

Those great ‘golden oldie’ hits Your Cheatin’ Heart and Hey, Good Lookin’ were composed by the celebrated American country and western singer, Hank Williams (1923—53). Hank’s style has played an influential role in much modern popular music.

The first fighting tank, manufactured by William Foster and Company of Lincoln, was nicknamed ‘Big Willie’.

The United Kingdom has one town and one body of water related to this surname: Williamscot and Williams lake. Canada has 4 namesake towns while the United States has 24, including 5 called Williams. Australia also has a Williams as well as a Williamsburg. Geographic Williams’s are fairly common, with rivers in Canada (2) and Australia as well as mountains in these two countries, while the Bahamas includes a Williams Island.

With about 451,000 namesakes Williams is the 3rd most popular surname in England and Wales. (The name is not common enough throughout Scotland to be counted separately.) Williams is notably popular in and around Cardiff where an estimated one in about 35 families bears the name. In decending numerical order Liverpool, Bristol and Birmingham are other Williams strongholds. Around the world Williams’s are most common in Canberra (one in 232 families), Wellington (one in 237) and Sydney (one in 247). The United States has more Williams’s than the entire population of Merseyside-an estimated total of just over 1,646,000 makes this their 3rd most popular surname.