Williams Family Crest and Name History

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Williams

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Williams history with Williams Family Crest
Williams Motto Translated
Suggested Readings for Williams
Surname Notables
About Family Crests
Williams Products

Origins Available: German, Welsh

Where did the Welsh Williams family come from? What is the Welsh coat of arms/family crest? When did the Williams family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the history of the family name?

Although there are comparatively few Welsh surnames, they have a great many spelling variations. Variations of Welsh names began almost immediately after their acceptance within Welsh society. In the Middle Ages, it was up to priests and the few other people that recorded names in official documents to decide how to spell the names that they heard. Variations that occurred because of improper recording increased dramatically as the names were later transliterated into English. The Brythonic Celtic language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, featured many highly inflected sounds that could not be properly captured by the English language. Spelling variations were, however, also carried out according to an individual's design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were all indicated by the particular variation of one's name. The spelling variations of the name Williams have included Williams, Quilliams, Guilliam, Guilliams and others.

First found in Breconshire and Monmouthshire on the English/ Welsh border, where the Williams family was seated from very ancient times.

Many people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in the 19th and 20th centuries, searching for land, work, and freedom. Like the many other immigrants from the British Isles, they made a significant contribution to the development of Canada and the United States. The Welsh and their descendents added a rich cultural tradition to the newly developed towns, cities, and villages. An investigation of the immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Williams: David Williams and Elizabeth Williams, who both settled in Virginia in 1623; as did Edward Williams in 1624; Richard Williams, who came to Maine in 1630.

Motto Translated: By following the truth.

Suggested Readings for the name Williams

The Ancestors and Descendants of Ebenezer and Martha Porter Williams of Painesville, Ohio by Percy Williams Lewis.
The Ancestor; The World of William Williams by John Francis Williams.
Diamonds in the Desert: The Family History of Bill and Gertie Williams by Billie William Yost.

Some noteworthy people of the name Williams

Tennessee Williams (1911-1983), well-known American playwright
Archie Williams (1915-1993), American engineer and Olympic gold medallist (1936)
Robin Williams (b. 1952), famous American entertainer, actor, and comedian
John Williams (b. 1932), American composer
Myrna Williams (b. 1905), original name of American Myrna Loy
William Williams (1731-1811), American signer of declaration of Independence
Jason Williams, American baseball player
Christa Williams, American softball player
Mary Lou Williams (1910-1981), American jazz pianist
Robley Cook Williams (b. 1908), early American biophysicist and virologist. He served as the first President of the Biophysical Society
Roger Williams (1604-1683), American clergyman
Emlyn Williams (1905-1987), Welsh playwright and actor
Edward Williams (1747-1826), Welsh poet
Isaac Williams (1802-1865), Welsh clergyman and tractarian
John Peter Rhys "J P R" Williams (b. 1949), Welsh Rugby Union player
Raymond Williams (1921-1988), Welsh critic and novelist
Waldo Williams (1904-1971), Welsh poet
Major General Channing Williams,
Basil Garnons Williams, British school headmaster and author
Captain Nevill Garnons Williams, British Royal Navy
Sir George Williams (1821-1905), English social reformer and founder of the YMCA
Charles Cootie Williams (1908-1985), jazz musician
Hiram King Williams (1923-1952), better known as Hank Williams Sr., popular country music singer and songwriter
John Christopher Williams (b. 1941), Australian classical and jazz guitarist
Richard Williams (b. 1913), tennis player
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958), English composer
Frank Williams, English racing team owner
Bernard Arthur Owen Williams (b. 1929), English philosopher
Frederick Ronald Williams (1927-1982), Australian landscape painter
Sir Frederic Calland Williams (1911-1977), English electrical engineer
Harold Williams (1893-1976), Australian baritone
John Williams (1796-1839), English missionary
Kenneth Williams (1926-1987), English actor and comedian
Sir Monier Williams (1819-1899), English Sanskrit scholar
Shirley Vivien Teresa Brittain Williams (b. 1930), English politician
Sir William Fenwick Williams (1800-1883), Canadian/Britsh soldier
Gwen Williams (1894-1979), original name of Jean Rhys
Corporal Hershel Woodrow Williams, who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1945
Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Jack Williams, who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1945

Tell Me More About Family Crests

Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist

We have researched the Williams family crest in the most recognized sources. Before an artist or craftsman can render a family crest, it must exist. In other words the crest must have been designed and recorded by the heralds from time immemorial.

Heraldic designs matriculated by the lay-artist in many cases becomes uninspired, meretricious and even ugly...

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Family Crests: Timeline

Many of the symbols adopted into armory have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians, but heraldry itself did not begin until the 11th century. In continental Europe, the most ancient recorded family crest was discovered upon the monumental effigy of a Count of Wasserburg in the church of St. Emeran, at Ratisobon, Germany...

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Family Crests: Elements

In the Williams coat of arms as in all coat of arms the crest is only one element of the full armorial achievement. Again the Family Crest is just part of the story of Coats of Arms or Heraldry. Heraldry is defined as the hereditary art or science of blazoning, the description is appropriate technical terms of Coats-of-Arms and other heraldic and armorial insignia, and is of very ancient origin...

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Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate

We encourage you to study the Williams genealogy to find out if you descend from someone who bore a particular family crest. Anyone making a study of heraldry usually becomes interested in Genealogy or seeking legal claim to a particular family crest. No families, not even the royal houses, can make sound claim to the right to bear arms unless a proven connection is established through attested Genealogical records...

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Williams Family Crest Products

Anniversary

Anniversary products for the name Williams.

Apparel

Apparel revealing the family crest for the surname Williams.

Armorial histories

Armorial histories for the name Williams.

Ceramics

Ceramics emphasing the family crest for the name Williams.

Clip art

Clip art of all the most used heraldic pieces.

Coat of Arms

Coat of Arms for the name Williams.

Downloads

Downloads proudly displaying the Williams coat of arms.

Family Crest

Family Crest for the name Williams.

Family Tree

Family Tree displaying the Williams family crest.

Hand Painted Plaques

Hand Painted Plaques featuring the family crest for the surname Williams.

Keychains

Keychains displaying the Williams family crest.

Mouse pads

Mouse pads featuring the family crest for the surname Williams.

Packages

Packages revealing the Williams family crest.

Plaques and Frames

Plaques and Frames emphasing the family crest for the name Williams.

Surname Histories

Surname Histories for the name Williams.

Travel Mugs

Travel Mugs with a Williams coat of arms.

Popular Products
	Armorial History With Coat of Arms
	Coat of Arms & Surname History Package
	Family Crest Image (jpg) Heritage Series - 150 DPI
	Key-chain
	Coffee Mug
	Armorial History with Frame
	Framed Surname History and Coat of Arms

The Williams Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Williams Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.