Willisch

This very interesting name is of Germanic-Prussian origins, and all early recordings come from the former provinces (or states) of Sachsen and Brandenburg in Germany. Furthermore, by Mid-European standards, the recordings of the name are constant, back to the early 17th Century, a rare event for a region wracked by war and strife for centuries. The name itself is a patronymic form of the Olde Saxon "William", so popular with the later Normans, and subsequently the English. Furthermore, in the case of Willisch, name holders have received ennoblement. The Coat of Arms awarded to the "Willisch of Valaise" has a blue field, charged with mountains topped by a single tree, in chief, two knights spurs. The name spelling is recorded as Willisch, Willich and Wylich, and in the latter form, Emma Konstance Von Wylich was recorded at Berlin Stadt, Brandenburg, on October 7th 1834. Other recordings include Johann Willisch who married Sabina Zoelher at Merseburg, Sachsen Province, on April 17th 1615, whilst on March 9th 1760, the rare double patronymic form "Willischs", was recorded at Berlin Stadt, when Sofia Willischs married Peter Gualtiesy. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Johannes Willisch, which was dated November 26th 1605, married Sophia Strigentius at Eckartsberga, Sachsen Province, during the reign of Emperor Rudolf 11 of the Holy Roman (German) Empire, 1576 - 1612. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.