As described in historical dictionaries

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)

(origin: Local) A county in England; Welsh, gwyllt, a wild, forest, a desert, and shire, a division, a county.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.


BritishSurnames.uk is a Good Stuff website.