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Williams
Williams is
a patronymic form of William. William is among the most commonly found Medieval given names, and as a result, is among the
most common surnames. William is derived from an Old French given name with Germanic elements, Wilhelm, wil = desire, wil+helm=helmet,
protection.
It was introduced by the
followers of William the Conqueror and became , in short order, one of the most popular given names in England.
The Welsh family name
Williams emerged in Monmouthshire. Their medieval seat was at Llangibby Castle on County Monmouth. The first to adopt the
surname Williams was Sir Roger Williams of Llangibby Castle in 1500. The family name held many castles throughout Wales and
Cornwall.
Immigrants to North America
bearing the Williams surname or one of it's spelling variations included the Williams settlers in Bay Bulls, Newfoundland,
traditionally descended from Vaughan's Welsh Colonists, who arrived in 1763. David Williams in Virginia in 1623, and Edward
in Virginia in 1624. Others include: Elizabeth, to Virginia in 1623, Henry and Hugh to Virginia in 1623, Richard Williams
to Maine in 1630, Robert Williams and his family in Virginia in 1622 and many more. Many with this name can be found on the
Empire Loyalists lists, including, John, David, Elijah, Henry and Robert Williams. The 1984 edition of the Report of Distribution
of Surnames in the Social Security ranks the names Williams as the 3rd most popular surnames in the United States.
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The Williams Family Coat of Arms and Family Crest
Family Coat of Arms where chosen to show the Nature of the family. Our
Williams Coat of Arms uses the cross to represent our faith in GOD, the lions to represent strength, the sword to represent
protection and the wheat at the base of the shield to represent provision. The family motto for our distinguished family is
"Deus, Vires, Tutela, Victualia", which means, God, strength, protection, provision.
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