Show ContentsWill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Will family

The surname Will was first found in Berwickshire an ancient county of Scotland, presently part of the Scottish Borders Council Area, located in the eastern part of the Borders Region of Scotland, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the Will family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Will research. Another 168 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1435, 1577, 1581, 1603, 1625 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Will History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Will Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wills, Will, Wylls and others.

Early Notables of the Will family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

  • Will the Crowner Gunn, scion of the family

Will Ranking

In the United States, the name Will is the 4,081st most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Will is ranked the 6,048th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2

Ireland Migration of the Will family to Ireland

Some of the Will family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Will migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Will Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Anna Maria Will, who landed in America in 1727 3
  • Isaac Will, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1743 3
  • Michael Will, who landed in Maryland in 1743 3
  • John Michel Will, who landed in New York in 1745 3
  • Goerge Michel Will, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1747 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Will Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Gertrude Will, aged 31, who landed in Brazil in 1827 3
  • Lawrence Will, who landed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1839 3
  • Lewis Will, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 3
  • Luise Will, aged 28, who arrived in America in 1843 3
  • Philipp Will, aged 34, who landed in America in 1843 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Will Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Elisabeth Will, aged 2, who landed in America in 1901 3
  • Christine Will, aged 18, who arrived in New York, NY in 1901 3
  • Gottlieb Will, aged 9, who arrived in New York, NY in 1901 3
  • Regina Will, aged 39, who arrived in New York, NY in 1901 3

Canada Will migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Will Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Will, who arrived in Montreal, Canada between 1793 and 1819
Will Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Pankraz Will, who arrived in Quebec in 1852
  • Otto Will, aged 15, who landed in Quebec in 1868

Australia Will migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Will Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • David Will, aged 25, a baker, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Sir Edward Parry" 4

New Zealand Will migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Will Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Rev. W. Will, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Stately" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 5th February 1854 5
  • Mrs. Will, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Stately" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 5th February 1854 5
  • William Will, aged 29, a shoemaker, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Helenslee" in 1864 6
  • Frances Will, aged 28, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Helenslee" in 1864 6
  • William Will, aged 6 mths., who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Helenslee" in 1864 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Will (post 1700) +

  • George Fredrick Will (b. 1941), American Pulitzer Prize-winning (1977 for Commentary) newspaper columnist, journalist, and author
  • First Lieutenant Walter J Will (d. 1945), American officer awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1945
  • Hay Will (1888-1949), British stage and film comedian
  • J. Will Knight, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Utah, 1916 7
  • Carlos Will Mejía (b. 1983), Honduran football midfielder
  • Brigadier-General John Will Coffey (1897-1951), American Professor of Ordnance, US Military Academy West Point (1947) 8
  • Walter Will Bankhead (1897-1988), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Alabama, 1940; U.S. Representative from Alabama 7th District, 1941 9
  • Sam Will John, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Alabama, 1908 10
  • J. Will Kirk, American politician, Mayor of Adrian, Michigan, 1897-99 11
  • Alfred Will Klieforth (1889-1969), American politician, U.S. Consul in Berlin, 1924-27; Riga, 1927-29; U.S. Consul General in Cologne, 1935-41; Winnipeg, 1941-45; Halifax, 1946-47; Vancouver, 1949 12

Bismarck
  • Fritz Will (1921-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 13
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Joseph William Will, American Seaman Second Class from Colorado, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 14


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. 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)
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SIR EDWARD PARRY 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849SirEdwardParry.htm
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2017, April 12) J. Knight. Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  8. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 3) John Coffey. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Coffey/John_Will/USA.html
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  10. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  11. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  12. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  13. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
  14. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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