| ![Show Contents]() De villiers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
France
Etymology of De villiersWhat does the name De villiers mean? Villier was originally a name given to a person that planted, or primarily worked with, a plant called "vrilles", or in English, "tendril" 1. Early Origins of the De villiers familyThe surname De villiers was first found in Normandy (French: Normandie), the former Duchy of Normandy, where this noted family has been traced from ancient times. Several members contributed greatly to the arts and literature of France. Pierre de Villiers (1648-1728) was a preacher and a poet whose most famous project "L'art de prêcher" was published in 1682. Cosme de Villiers (1683-1758), a friar, was a noted scholar. Pierre Villiers (1760-1849) was a dramatic author. The family grew and branched to other regions in France, where a good number of Lords came from families through marriage. Early History of the De villiers familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our De villiers research. Another 35 words (2 lines of text) covering the year 1146 is included under the topic Early De villiers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. De villiers Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Villiers, Villier, Viliers, Vilier, Viliais, Villiais, Villiez, Viliez, Villié, Vilié, Villiée, Viliée and many more. Early Notables of the De villiers familyNotable amongst the family in this period was - Pierre de Villiers, preacher, poet
De villiers RankingIn France, the name De villiers is the 5,225th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2 However, in South Africa, the name De villiers is ranked the 224th most popular surname with an estimated 29,803 people with that name. 3 Migration of the De villiers familySome of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: M.C. Villiers, at age 70; settled in New Orleans with his son, aged 25; in 1823; A. Villiers settled in New Orleans in 1822.
| Contemporary Notables of the name De villiers (post 1700) | + |
- Viscount Philippe Le Jolis de Villiers de Saintigno (b. 1949), French entrepreneur, politician and novelist
- André-Jean-François-Marie Brochant de Villiers (1772-1840), French mineralogist and geologist
- Abraham de Villiers, French Huguenot settler to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and later owned of one the oldest wine estates in the Cape, Boschendal
- Pieter de Villiers (b. 1972), retired South African-born French rugby union footballer
- Claude Germain Louis Devilliers, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 4
- David Jacobus de Villiers (1940-2022), South African ordained Minister in the Dutch Reformed Church; a South African Government minister and a Springbok rugby captain
- Henry Oswald "HO" de Villiers (1945-2022), South African rugby union player for the South Africa National Team (1967-1970)
- John Henry de Villiers KCMG PC (1842-1914), 1st Baron de Villiers, South African lawyer and jurist, Attorney-General, Chief Justice of South Africa (1910-1914)
- Jacquez Charl de Villiers (1928-2018), known as Kay de Villiers, a South African neurosurgeon
- Jean de Villiers (b. 1981), South African rugby union footballer
- ... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
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: La main a l'oeuvre
Motto Translation: The hand work
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