Willem History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The German state of Prussia, which reached the zenith of its power in the late 19th century, is the glorious birthplace of the distinguished surname Willem. In the medieval era, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the German lands were inhabited by a variety of Barbarian tribes. The borders of the Barbarian kingdoms changed frequently, but the region that became known in Prussia was roughly divided between the areas of Brandenburg-Prussia, West Prussia, and East Prussia. The colorful history of Brandenburg-Prussia, which is essentially the birthplace of modern Germany, provides a glimpse at the oldest origins of the Willem family.

Early Origins of the Willem family

The surname Willem was first found in northern Germany, where the name was associated in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history. The name would eventually emerge as belonging to a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs. Its use as a Surname must be traced back to its immense popularity as a first name early in the Middle Ages. Indeed, one chronicle mentions a knight's feast in Bayeux around 1171 A.D. in which alone 117 Wilhelms were listed as taking part.

Early History of the Willem family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Willem research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1709, 1812, 1845 and 1864 are included under the topic Early Willem History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Willem Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Willem include Wilhelm, Wilhem, Wilhelmi (Latinized), Wilhelmy, Wilhelmus (Latinized), Wilhelms, Wilhelmsen (Holstein), Wilhalm (Bavaria, Austria), Wilms (Friesland) and many more.

Early Notables of the Willem family

More information is included under the topic Early Willem Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Willem Ranking

In France, the name Willem is the 5,694^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 1

Willem migration to the United States +

The state of Prussia was a great influence on the shape of modern Germany. After the Second World War, Prussia's land was divided among the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany and the state was abolished. Some Prussians remained in those countries after the war, while many others migrated to North America in search of a new start. Philadelphia was their primary point of entry to the United States, after which many of them moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. A large number of Prussians also migrated to Ontario and the prairie provinces as United Empire Loyalists. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Willems to arrive in North America, and among them were:

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

Citations +

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