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![Show Contents]() Willem History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Anglo-Saxon name Willem comes from its first bearer, who was a wild man. A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character. Early Origins of the Willem familyThe surname Willem was first found in Berkshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times and were Lords of the manor of Beaucot, before and after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Some of the first records of the name include John Wildeman who was listed on the Close Rolls during the reign of King Richard II, which lasted from 1377 to 1399 and the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 lists Willelmus Wyldman. Early History of the Willem familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Willem research. Another 56 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1621, 1646, 1647 and 1693 are included under the topic Early Willem History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Willem Spelling VariationsThe first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Willem has been spelled many different ways, including Wildman, Wyldman, Wileman and others. Early Notables of the Willem familyNotables of this surname at this time include: Sir John Wildman (c. 1621-1693), an English soldier and politician. "He seems to have served for a time in Sir Thomas Fairfax's lifeguards, probably about 1646, as it is hinted that he was not one of that body in the days of fighting, and had certainly ceased to belong to it by the autumn of 1647. In the autumn of 1647, when the soldiers of...
Another 72 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Willem Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Willem RankingIn France, the name Willem is the 5,694th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 1
 Willem migration to the United States | + |
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Willems to arrive in North America:
Willem Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Antony Willem, who landed in New York in 1709 2
- Hans Willem, who arrived in New York in 1709 2
- Johan Willem, who landed in New York in 1709 2
- Jorg Willem, who arrived in New York in 1709 2
- Mikel Willem, who landed in New York in 1709 2
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Willem (post 1700) | + |
- Jan Willem Kelder (1949-2021), Dutch officer in the Royal Netherlands Navy, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy (2005-2007)
- Frederik Willem de Klerk (b. 1936), South African politician, the last State President of Apartheid-era South Africa from September 1989 to May 1994
- Jan Willem Janssens, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 3
- Arend Willem Langenberg (1949-2012), Dutch voice-over, voice actor and radio presenter
- Jeroen Willem Boere (1967-2007), Dutch football player
- Frank Willem Drost (b. 1963), Dutch gold and two-time bronze medalist swimmer
- Dale Willem Steyn (b. 1983), South African cricketer
- Anton Willem Nieuwenhuis (1864-1953), Dutch explorer who crossed Borneo (1896 to 1897)
- Cornelis Willem Bos (1506-1555), Flemish engraver, printseller and book publisher
- Pieter Willem Coetzer (b. 1947), well-known South African politician
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Tentenda via est
Motto Translation: The way must be tried.
- http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, March 13) Jan Janssens. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html
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Willem migration to the United States 
England
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