Surname Willms - Meaning and Origin
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read moreWillms: What does the surname Willms mean?
The last name Willms is of German origin, and is a variation of the surname Willmes, which is derived from the words 'Wilhelm' and 'Meister'. It is thought that this name was first used in Germany by a family who performed expert services that required a high level of skill.
The exact etymology of the name is uncertain, but some theories suggest that the first portion of the name, 'Wilhelm', is a German equivalent of the English name 'William', which is derived from the Germanic elements 'wil', meaning 'will' or 'desire', and 'helm', meaning 'helmet'. The second element of the name, 'Meister', is a German word meaning 'master' or 'expert'.
The surname Willms is found across Germany and in other German-speaking countries. It is also used in the United States, where many descendants of German immigrants have taken the name.
Willms is an occupational surname, and so those who have the surname likely had a family member who was a skilled expert in a particular field. Today, the name serves as a reminder of ancestors who worked diligently and excelled in their craft.
Order DNA origin analysisWillms: Where does the name Willms come from?
The last name Willms is most common today in Germany and the surrounding countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium. It can also be found in the United States as a result of German emigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Willms is derived from the old German personal name Willam, which means "resolute protector"; it is recorded in history as early as 1281 in the east of Germany. By the mid-14th century the name had spread throughout Germany, and in 1812 Johann Wilms arrived in the United States aboard the vessel Copenhagen and settled in Tennessee.
In contemporary Germany, Willms is mostly concentrated in the northern, western, and eastern parts of the country as well as in the city of Berlin. It can also be found in eastern European countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland. Similarly, in the United States, Willms is concentrated in states with a history of German settlement such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, and New York.
Overall, the last name Willms is quite a common name throughout Europe and the United States, with many people carrying the surname proudly claiming to be descendants of Johann Wilms and altering the spelling only slightly.
Variations of the surname Willms
The Willms surname is of German origin and can be spelled in a variety of different ways. The most common variations are Wilms, Willems, and Willems. Other variations include:
Willmes, Willumes, Willim, Willims, Willims, Willm, Wils, Wille, Wilens, Willens, Wilkens, Wills, Wilczek, Wilcoxon, Wilkowski, Wilsen, Wilkins, Wilkie, Wilcox, Wilco, Wilkie, Wilcken, Wilborough, Woolen, Welsch, Wilheim, Wilhelm, Wahlman, Wlicks, Wylie, Wilmer, Willanie, Willmott, Wellman, Willing, Wilkison, Willingham, Willeke, and Wilmeth.
The variants of Willms surnames can be found all around the world. They can be found in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe. It is a name that has spread far and wide. Many of the variants link back to a common ancestor, and the origin of the name can be traced back to the German region of Westphalia.
Generally speaking, Willms is a patronymic name which means that it is derived from the Christian name of the father. In some parts of Europe, the surname was also associated with the region of the family's primary residence and, therefore, the name changed depending on the region.
In some cases, the surname was used to describe a person’s occupation or physical attributes, such as Willeke meaning ‘little Will’.
Overall, the Willms surname is a name of German origin with many variations and spellings. It is a name that has spread far and wide, and can be found in many countries around the world.
Famous people with the name Willms
- Maik Willms, German soccer player
- Simeon Willms, German lawyer
- Frank Willms, Austrian composer
- Andreas Willms, German-Canadian actor, director, and writer
- Leonard Willms, Canadian football player
- Samantha Willms, American singer and songwriter
- Leah Willms, American wheelchair racer
- Marlies Willms, Austrian actress
- Holger Willms, German engineer
- Marco Willms, Swiss music producer