| ![Show Contents]() Willens History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of WillensWhat does the name Willens mean? This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor as in 'the son of William,' from nickname Will, diminutive Will-in. 1 2 Early Origins of the Willens familyThe surname Willens was first found in Yorkshire, where the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include: Cecilia Wylyn; Ricardus Wylyn; and Johannes Willion as all holding klands there at that time. 1 "The Willings are represented in the Kingsbridge district [of Devon.] Willing was a Buckinghamshire name in the reign of Edward I. " 3
Further to the north in Scotland, the earliest record of this name was of Thomas and William Whillans who held lands in the Lordship of Liddesdale about 1490. The name is believed to be derived from the old lands of Quheillands in the lordships of Liddisdaill. Thomas and William Querland were mentioned in 1505 and just one year later, they are referred to as Thomas and William Querlance. Early History of the Willens familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Willens research. Another 167 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1490, 1578, 1579, 1622, 1704 and 1750 are included under the topic Early Willens History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Willens Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Whillans, Whillens, Wheelans, Willan, Willans and others. Early Notables of the Willens familyMore information is included under the topic Early Willens Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Willens familySome of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: John Whilan settled in New York in 1853.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Willens (post 1700) | + |
- Kathy Ann Willens (1949-2024), American photographer and photojournalist, one of the first women photojournalists to work for the Associated Press
- Sherwin Willens, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1972 4
- Maxwell M. Willens, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1956 5
- Harold Willens, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1972 5
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
- Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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