Brief Life History of William
William was christened on 19 October 1718.
Photos and Memories (0)
Do you know William? Do you have a story about them that you would like to share? Sign In or Create a FREE Account
Sources (0)
There are no historical documents attached to William.
Name Meaning
Probably the most successful of all the Old French names of Germanic origin that were introduced to England by the Normans. It is derived from Germanic wil ‘will, desire’ + helm ‘helmet, protection’. The fact that it was borne by the Conqueror himself does not seem to have inhibited its favour with the ‘conquered’ population: in the first century after the Conquest it was the commonest male name of all, and not only among the Normans. In the later Middle Ages it was overtaken by John , but continued to run second to that name until the 20th century, when the picture became more fragmented.
Dictionary of First Names © Patrick Hanks and Flavia Hodges 1990, 2003, 2006.
Discover Even More
As a nonprofit, we offer free help to those looking to learn the details of their family story.
