Williams Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Williams is a patronymic surname of Old English origin, meaning 'son of William,' which comes from the Old High German name 'Willahelm.' The name evolved through various historical forms and gained popularity after the Norman Conquest. It is commonly perceived as a strong and reliable surname, with notable individuals including Shakespeare and Serena Williams.
The name Williams is most popular in Mississippi, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Williams has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Williams' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 863rd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 858th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 971st out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1293rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1718th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2228th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2791st out of 23106 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 11599th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 15428th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 27321st out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Williams' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Williams"
Pronunciation
/ˈwɪljəmz/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
Williams is a patronymic surname derived from the given name William, which itself comes from the Old High German name 'Willahelm,' composed of the elements 'wil' meaning 'desire' and 'helm' meaning 'helmet' or 'protection'.
Meaning
Son of William
Language Evolution
Willahelm (Old High German), Wilhelmus (Latin), William (Old French/English), Williams (Anglo-Norman/English)
Historical Usage
The name Williams gained popularity in England and Wales during the Middle Ages, especially following the Norman Conquest in 1066, when the name William became widely adopted.
Variants & Derivatives
Will, Bill, Willy, Willie, Wilhelm
Modern Popularity & Image
Williams is a common surname that is often associated with strength and reliability. It remains a popular choice in English-speaking countries.
Famous People
Williams Shakespeare (playwright), Robin Williams (actor and comedian), Serena Williams (tennis player), Hank Williams (musician)
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Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Williams"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Williams"
"Williams" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 863rd of 7545 | 984 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 858th of 6773 | 997 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 971st of 7552 | 1,119 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1293rd of 10718 | 684 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1718th of 16616 | 699 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2228th of 24088 | 850 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2791st of 23106 | 531 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 11599th of 12526 | 7 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 15428th of 19264 | 12 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 27321st of 27321 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Williams" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
29.08% 688th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
25.67% 604th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
25.13% 717th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
47.84% 1405th/2937 |
37.93% 1321st/3483 |
34.05% 1198th/3518 |
33.18% 1342nd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
64.56% 2379th/3685 |
42.70% 1911th/4475 |
31.54% 1638th/5194 |
20.55% 1298th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
71.85% 3292nd/4582 |
40.07% 2069th/5164 |
25.73% 1882nd/7313 |
24.63% 1838th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
55.38% 2485th/4487 |
32.86% 2242nd/6822 |
60.95% 3825th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Williams" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Williams"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Williams" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.