Show ContentsWilly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Willy

What does the name Willy mean?

In the mountains of Scotland's west coast and on the Hebrides islands, the ancestors of the Willy family were born. Their name comes from the personal name William. The Gaelic form of the surname is Mac Uilleim, which means son of William.

Early Origins of the Willy family

The surname Willy was first found in on the Isle of Harris, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Scotland.

Early History of the Willy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Willy research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1187, 1215, 1613 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Willy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Willy Spelling Variations

Spelling variations are a very common occurrence in records of early Scottish names. They result from the repeated and inaccurate translations that many names went through in the course of various English occupations of Scotland. Willy has been spelled MacWilliam, MacQuilliam, MacKilliam, MacWilliams, MacKullie, MacCullie, MacWillie and many more.

Early Notables of the Willy family

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

Migration of the Willy family to Ireland

Some of the Willy family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Willy migration to the United States +

Scottish settlers arrived in many of the communities that became the backbones of the United States and Canada. Many stayed, but some headed west for the endless open country of the prairies. In the American War of Independence, many Scots who remained loyal to England re-settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots across North America were able to recover much of their lost heritage in the 20th century as Clan societies and highland games sprang up across North America. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Willys to arrive on North American shores:

Willy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Willy, who arrived in Virginia in 1656 1
  • Humphrey Willy, who landed in Maryland in 1668 1
Willy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Anthony Willy, who arrived in Georgia in 1742 1
  • Joseph Willy, who landed in New York, NY in 1754 1
Willy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Abraham Willy, (b. 1789), aged 62, Cornish miner departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Mecca" arriving in the United States on 31 July 1851 2
  • Mrs. Mary Willy, (b. 1791), aged 60, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Mecca" arriving in the United States on 31 July 1851 2
  • Miss Jane Willy, (b. 1820), aged 31, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Mecca" arriving in the United States on 31 July 1851 2
  • Miss Elizabeth Willy, (b. 1830), aged 21, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Mecca" arriving in the United States on 31 July 1851 2
  • Mr. Oliver Willy, (b. 1833), aged 18, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Mecca" arriving in the United States on 31 July 1851 2

Willy migration to Australia +

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

Willy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Robert Willy, (b. 1804), aged 29, English convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for life for robbery, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 27th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Willy (post 1700) +

  • Theophilus Albert Willy (1845-1916), British-born American politician, who arrived in Wisconsin in 1866
  • Drew Willy (b. 1986), American former professional Canadian football quarterback
  • William Willy (1703-1765), English politician, Member of Parliament from 1747
  • Nikita Purnama Willy (b. 1994), Indonesian actress, model and singer
  • Charles Willy Kayser (1881-1942), German film actor
  • Feldwebel Willy Kahle, German World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories
  • Willy Wimmer (b. 1943), German politician, Vice President of the OSCE (1985-1992)
  • Willy De Bruyn (1914-1989), born Elvira (Elvire) De Bruyn, Belgium cyclist, unofficial women's world champion in 1934 and 1936; he changed his name from Elvire to Willy in 1937, becoming a man, featured in the four-part series "How I became a Man" in the April 1937
  • Willy Dullens (1945-2024), Dutch footballer
  • Willy Pfund (1939-2023), Swiss politician of the Liberal Party


  1. 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)
  2. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas


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