Williams (surname)
Williams is a patronymic form of the name William that originated in medieval England, Wales, France, and Italy. The meaning is derived from "son" or "descendant of William", the Northern French form that also gave the English name William. Derived from an Old French given name with Germanic elements; "will" = desire, will; and "helm" = helmet, protection. It can be an Anglicised form of the Dutch surname Willems. It is the second most common surname in New Zealand; third most common in Wales and the United States and fourth most common in Australia. History of the surname . The Welsh name Williams is a patronymic surname, derived from the personal name Williams and is takes its names from the Old German words Willihelm and Willelm (the Norman French version was Guillaume). After the Norman conquest of England in 1066, the surname became the most popular name in Britain during that time. References. PH Reaney & RM Wilson, "A Dictionary of English Surnames:The Standard Guide to English Surnames", Oxford University Press, 1995, .