Show ContentsWillmott History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Willmott surname evolved from a form of the personal name William.

Early Origins of the Willmott family

The surname Willmott was first found in Derbyshire where "for 350 years, the Derbyshire Wilmots, who have been honoured with three baronetcies, have been settled at Derby or at Cliaddesden in its neighbourhood. There were Wilmots in Cambridgeshire in the 13th century." [1]

Early records listed the name as both a forename and a surname. Walter Wilimot was listed in 1252 and Henry Wilmot was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279 for Cheshire. Thomas Wilmet was listed in the Assize Rolls for Kent in 1317. [2]

Early History of the Willmott family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Willmott research. Another 141 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1008, 1570, 1612, 1614, 1621, 1644, 1647, 1650, 1651, 1652, 1658, 1680, 1681 and 1740 are included under the topic Early Willmott History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Willmott Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Willmot, Wilmot, Wilmott, Willmott and others.

Early Notables of the Willmott family

Notables of the family at this time include Charles Wilmot (c.1570-1644), created 1st Viscount Athlone on 4 June, 1621; as well as his son, Lieutenant-General Henry Wilmot (1612-1658), an English Cavalier, who fought for the Royalist cause during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, and...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Willmott Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Willmott family to Ireland

Some of the Willmott family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Willmott migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Willmott Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Francis Willmott, who arrived in Maryland in 1657 [3]
  • Tho Willmott, who arrived in Virginia in 1657 [3]
  • John Willmott, who landed in Virginia in 1666 [3]
  • Robert Willmott, who arrived in Maryland in 1678 [3]
Willmott Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Samuel Devonshire Willmott, aged 53, who landed in New Jersey in 1819 [3]

Australia Willmott migration to Australia +

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

Willmott Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • James Willmott, aged 22, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Standard" [4]
  • Mr. Samuel Willmott, (b. 1835), aged 19, Cornish miner, from Stithians, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Lady Elgin" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 4th August 1854 [5]
  • Elizabeth Willmott, aged 15, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Caroline" [6]
  • Martha Willmott, aged 40, a housekeeper, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Caroline" [6]

New Zealand Willmott 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:

Willmott Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Willmott, (b. 1829), aged 43, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Jessie Readman" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th December 1872 [7]
  • Mrs. Eliza Willmott, (b. 1837), aged 35, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Jessie Readman" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th December 1872 [7]
  • W. Willmott, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Tongariro" in 1888

Contemporary Notables of the name Willmott (post 1700) +

  • Ann Willmott, American vice president of operations, known for her work on The Bold and the Beautiful (155 episodes)
  • Kevin Willmott (b. 1959), American professor of film at the University of Kansas and a movie director
  • Robert Aris Willmott (1809-1863), English author from Bradford in Wiltshire, son of a solicitor [8]
  • Christopher Alan "Chris" Willmott (b. 1977), English retired footballer who played from 1995 to 2014
  • Ellen Ann Willmott (1858-1934), English horticulturalist
  • Dan Willmott, Canadian actor, known for his roles in Mean Girls (2004), Waydowntown (2000) and Big Girl (2005)
  • Jacquelene "Jackie" Willmott (b. 1965), British gold medalist, two-times silver and three-time bronze swimmer
  • Stuart Willmott (b. 1964), retired British swimmer who competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics, father of Aimee Willmott
  • Aimee Willmott (b. 1993), British three-time silver and bronze medalist swimmer at the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2014 European Championships
  • Brigadier Harold Willmott CBE (1899-1993), South African military commander
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Willmott Motto +

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: Quod vult valde valt
Motto Translation: What he wishes, he fervently wishes.


  1. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  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. South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) STANDARD 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/standard1852.shtml
  5. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1850_59.pdf
  6. South Australian Register Thursday 26th April 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Caroline 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/caroline1855.shtml
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  8. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 4 Feb. 2019


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