Willis

Willis
Recorded in many spellings including Willas, Wiles, Willes, Wills, Willys, Williss, Willos and Wileson, this is an English patronymic surname. It is however arguably of early Germanic or Anglo-Saxon pre 7th century origins deriving from the popular personal name William, composed of the elements "wil" meaning will or desire, and "helm", a helmet or protector. This name was particularly popular with the Norman-French and became so in both England and to a lesser extent, Scotland, after the 1066 conquest. Robertus filius Willelmi is recorded in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, whilst amongst the early hereditary recordings is that of Richard Willam in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1275. The patronymic forms are first recorded slightly later with Johannes Willeson and Adam Wylis appearing in the Poll Tax records of Yorkshire in 1379. Early examples of the name recording taken from surviving church registers in the diocese of Greater London include: John Willys at St Stephans, Coleman Street, on December 6th 1549, William Willes, a christening witness at Christchurch Greyfriars, on April 6th 1565, the marriage of Alexander Willis and Jane Smallwood on October 1st 1598, at St. Dunstan's, Stepney, and John Willas who marrieed Ann Blows at St Giles Cripplegate, on August 28th 1838. An interesting namebearer, recorded in the "Dictionary of National Biography", was Francis Willis (1718 - 1807), a physician who attended King George 111rd in his first attack of madness in 1788, and who became popular at court. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter Wilys. This was dated 1327, in the Poll Tax Rolls of Staffordshire, during the reign of King Edward 111rd of England, 1327 - 1377. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Willis — may refer to:People*Willis (surname)Places in the United States*Willis, Florida, a town *Willis, Kansas, a city *Willis, Michigan, an unincorporated community *Willis, Texas, a city *Willis, Virginia: **Willis, Floyd County, Virginia, an… …   Wikipedia

  • Willis — steht für: Willis (Automarke), ein britisches Cyclecar Willis (Familienname), der Familienname Willis Willis Tower, höchster Wolkenkratzer der USA in Chicago Willis (Texas), ein Ort in Texas Willis ist Teil der Firma folgender Unternehmen: Willis …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Willis — Willis, KS U.S. city in Kansas Population (2000): 69 Housing Units (2000): 29 Land area (2000): 0.168593 sq. miles (0.436653 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.168593 sq. miles (0.436653 sq. km)… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Willis — Willis, Thomas * * * (as used in expressions) Carrier, Willis Haviland Reed, Willis Scripps, Edward Willis Young, Lester (Willis) …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Willis, KS — U.S. city in Kansas Population (2000): 69 Housing Units (2000): 29 Land area (2000): 0.168593 sq. miles (0.436653 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.168593 sq. miles (0.436653 sq. km) FIPS code:… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Willis, TX — U.S. city in Texas Population (2000): 3985 Housing Units (2000): 1374 Land area (2000): 3.290877 sq. miles (8.523333 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 3.290877 sq. miles (8.523333 sq. km) FIPS code …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Willis —   [ wɪlɪs], Thomas, englischer Mediziner, * Great Bedwyn (County Wiltshire) 21. 1. 1621, ✝ London 11. 11. 1675; ab 1660 Professor in Oxford, ab 1666 Arzt in London und Leibarzt Karls II.; Vertreter der Iatrochemie. Willis arbeitete v. a. über das …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Willis — [wil′is] n. [< the surname Willis, prob. < Willson, Wilson (< Will s son)] a masculine name …   English World dictionary

  • Willis — (spr. Uillis), 1) Thomas, geb. 1622 in Great Bedwin, wurde 1660 Professor der Naturphilosophie u. 1666 praktischer Arzt in London u. st. daselbst 1676. Nach ihm sind mehre Theile des Gehirns benannt. Er schr.: De fermentatione, de motu intestino… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Willis — Willis, s. Vampir …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Willis — Nathanael Parker, geb. 1807 zu Portland in Maine, lebte u. reiste mehrmals in Europa, Verfasser humoristischer Reisebilder (Werke, New York 1846) …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

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