Willment

This interesting surname is almost certainly of French locational origin, and derives from the villages called "Villemont" in Normandy. The placename translates as "the settlement on the hill", and the name has been recorded in England from at least the medieval period under various spellings. A Coat of Arms was granted to the Villemonts of Luxembourg, circa 1600. This is curious in being simply a plain black shield charged with a silver escutcheon (inner shield). The name is, however, ennobled in France as the Marquis de Villemont. The name in England is in the Anglicized forms of Williment, Wilmont, and Willment. The "link" spellings include: Wylemonde (see below); Millicent Wilmont of Enfield in 1695; Thomas Willimont of St. Pancras in 1719; William Wilment of St. Mary Le Bone in 1769; and Samuel Willment, who married Elizabeth Cade at St. Olave's Church, Old Jewry, London, on February 24th 1796. Oddly, Samuel Willment is also recorded as marrying the same lady at St. Mary's, Aldermary, London, on March 14th 1796! The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gregory Wylemonde, which was dated March 18th 1582, marriage to Ellyzabeth Hollewell, at St. Giles', Cripplegate, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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.