WILLS
The surname Wills is of English origin and can be analysed as having Germanic roots. It is derived from the medieval given name Will, which was a diminutive of William. The personal name William itself originates from the Germanic elements wil, meaning “desire” or “will”, and helm, meaning “helmet” or “protection”. Consequently, the surname Wills is best understood as a patronymic designation meaning “son of Will” or “descendant of William”, indicating a familial connection to an ancestor bearing that personal name.
An alternative etymology for Wills has been proposed on topographic grounds. In this view the name derives from the West Saxon word wiell(a) and the earlier Old English word well(a), which were both used for a spring or stream. The Middle English form will carried the sense of a watercourse, so the surname could have originally identified a person who lived adjacent to such a source. Both interpretations are supported by documentary evidence and are not mutually exclusive.
The oldest surviving record of the family name appears in the Curia Rolls of Norfolk, dated 1207. The entry lists a man named Walt Wille, a spelling variant that is now recognised as an early form of Wills. This record falls within the reign of King John (1199–1216), situating the surname within the early 13th‑century English administrative context.
The period following the accession of William the Conqueror to the English throne in 1066 saw a widespread increase in the use of names derived from William across the kingdom. The adoption of surnames such as Wills during this era may have been influenced by the royal prestige of the name and its rising popularity amongst the populace. This phenomenon is reflected in contemporary records, such as the 1634 oath of allegiance taken by John Wills, a feltmaker from Barnstaple, before William Gourney of Dartmouth, prior to his emigration to the New World.
In modern times the surname Wills remains in use throughout the British Isles, particularly in England where it originated. Its continued presence is a testament to its early establishment and the enduring nature of patronymic naming practices in English society.
Typical given names associated with the Wills surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Angela
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Jane
- Jennifer
- Julie
- Karen
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Willis
- Willison
- Willies
- Walls
- Wals
- Wales
- Wall
- Wallas
- Wallis
- Walis
- Walus
- Walas
- Wails
- Wailis
- Waell
- Wail
- Will
- Willa
- Wealls
- Weals
- Weells
- Weels
- Weles
- Well
- Welles
- Wellls
- Wells
- Wels
- Whails
- Whales
- Wheals
- Wheels
- Whells
- Whill
- Whille
- Whills
- Wil
- Wille
- Willes
- Wils
- Wallais
- Wallies
- Wallows
- Walz
- Weall
- Weell
- Weighll
- Weil
- Welis
- Welle
- Wellis
- Welz
- Whail
- Whall
- Whell
- Wiehl
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Wills in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Wills are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Mint Club.
There are approximately 14,595 people named Wills in the UK. That makes it the 607th most common surname in Britain. Around 224 in a million people in Britain are named Wills.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Wills
- Rick Wills - Musician
- Anneke Wills - Actress
- Lucy Wills - Physician and hematologist (1888 to 1964)
- William John Wills - Explorer of Australia (1834 to 1861)
- Michael Wills - Politician
- Gilbert Wills, 1st Baron Dulverton - Member of Parliament (1880 to 1956)
- George Alfred Wills - Businessman (1854 to 1928)
- Alfred Wills - Judge (1828 to 1912)
- Wilfrid Wills - Soldier, Member of Parliament, and naval officer (1898 to 1954)
- Len Wills - Football player (1927 to 1)
- Gordon Wills - Football player (1934 to 2018)
- Roy Wills - Cricketer
- Kevin Wills - Football player
- Philip Wills - Glider pilot (1907 to 1978)
- Gerald Wills - Politician (1905 to 1969)
- Alan Wills - Archer
- Drusilla Wills - Actress (1884 to 1951)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.