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Following the Norman Conquest, William quickly became the most popular first name in the land, only being superseded by John in the middle of the twelfth century.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.