Willis first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Willis has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Willis

A Germanic masculine name meaning "resolute will" or "determined protector".

Popularity of Willis by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Willis is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Willis being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 59 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Willis.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 59 0
2022 44 0
2021 62 0
2020 62 0
2019 50 0
2018 55 0
2017 51 0
2016 70 0
2015 74 0
2014 81 0
2013 74 0
2012 78 0
2011 74 0
2010 51 0
2009 66 0
2008 59 0
2007 80 0
2006 79 0
2005 66 0
2004 65 0
2003 78 0
2002 70 0
2001 82 0
2000 107 0
1999 109 0
1998 106 0
1997 94 0
1996 113 0
1995 115 0
1994 119 0
1993 127 0
1992 126 0
1991 163 0
1990 159 0
1989 166 5
1988 183 0
1987 169 0
1986 176 0
1985 186 0
1984 186 0
1983 203 0
1982 227 0
1981 199 0
1980 228 0
1979 233 0
1978 214 0
1977 232 0
1976 181 0
1975 203 0
1974 199 0

The history of the first name Willis

Willis is an English given name derived from the Germanic name Willahelm, which means "will helmet" or "resolute protection." The name has its roots in the Old German words "wil" (will) and "helm" (helmet or protector).

The name Willis first appeared in England during the Middle Ages, around the 12th century. It was a common name among the Anglo-Saxons and became popular after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Willis can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared several times in this historical record.

In the 13th century, Willis was mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls, a collection of legal records from the royal court of England. The name was also found in various medieval charters and documents from that period.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Willis. One of the earliest was Willis de Braose (c. 1150-1210), a prominent Anglo-Norman baron and Lord of Gower in Wales.

Another historical figure was Willis Browne (1608-1692), an English clergyman and author who wrote several books on natural history and theology.

In the 18th century, Willis Hill (1718-1808) was an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics.

Willis Richardson (1819-1897) was an American politician and military officer who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Willis Carrier (1876-1950) was an American engineer and inventor, best known for inventing modern air conditioning.

While the name Willis has its roots in England and was primarily used in the English-speaking world, it has also been adopted in other cultures and languages over time. However, its origins can be traced back to the Germanic languages and the Old English period, when it first emerged as a given name for boys.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Willis was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Willis, please contact us.

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"Willis first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/willis-meaning-and-history/.

"Willis first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/willis-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Willis first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/willis-meaning-and-history/.

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