Willis is a surname of English origin that is derived from the Old Norse personal name Willelmus, which was a form of William. The name William means "resolute protection" or "strong-willed warrior". Willis was originally a patronymic surname, meaning it was passed down through generations based on the father's given name.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Willis can be found in England during the late 13th century. It is believed to have been brought to England by Norman invaders who arrived with William the Conqueror in 1066. Over time, Willis became a common surname throughout England and other parts of Europe.
In some cases, Willis may also be an Americanized form of similar-sounding surnames such as Wills or Wilusz from other European countries like Germany or Poland. Despite its origins, the surname Willis is now widespread across many different cultures and regions around the world.
Today, Willis is still a popular surname and can be found in various spellings such as Wills, Willy, Willie, and even Willson. It has also become a given name for boys in some parts of the world, particularly in North America. However, its meaning remains unchanged: "resolute protection" or "strong-willed warrior".
The given statistics show the annual number of births with the name Willis in the United States from 1880 to 2023. The data provides a fascinating glimpse into the popularity and evolution of this particular name over more than a century.
From 1880 to 1910, the name Willis was quite popular, with the number of births fluctuating between 166 and 233 per year. However, starting from 1911, there was a significant increase in popularity, peaking at 1197 births in 1920.
The period from 1920 to 1965 saw a steady decline in the number of Willis births, dropping from 1250 in 1922 to 300 in 1965. This trend continued into the late 1970s and early 1980s, with the lowest point being 126 births in 1992.
However, since the mid-1990s, there has been a slight resurgence in the popularity of the name Willis. While it hasn't reached the heights of the early 20th century, the number of Willis births has stabilized around 50 to 80 per year since the late 1990s.
In conclusion, these statistics illustrate how the popularity of a given name can change dramatically over time. Despite its fluctuations, the name Willis has remained a consistent choice for American parents throughout the past century and a half.