Surname Guilaume - Meaning and Origin
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Guilaume: What does the surname Guilaume mean?
The last name Guilaume is a French surname derived from the Germanic personal name ‘Willahelm’, meaning ‘Guile’ or ‘Aristocracy’. This personal name may have been brought to various regions of Europe, including France, by Germanic migrants during the Migration Period. The surname can also be found spelled as ‘Guillaume’ or possibly other variations.
The name was used to denote someone who had immense wealth, power, or influence, which was often associated with aristocracy. Over the centuries, the name has spread throughout various European countries, including France, where it is particularly common.
The modern day Guilhouse is a French surname of considerable social status, which is longstanding tradition within the country. It is used frequently in France to denote old families or families of noble birth status. It is not a particularly common surname internationally today, as it is mainly concentrated in France, its Germanic homeland, and other regions of Europe where Germanic migrants may have settled.
The Guilhouse name has been retained through the centuries and continues to be associated with social prestige and status, as its name suggests. It is a reminder of a distant past, where power and influence were the sole preserve of the ultra-wealthy, whose families can trace their lineage back generations.
Order DNA origin analysisGuilaume: Where does the name Guilaume come from?
The surname Guilaume is a French surname that is most commonly found today in France, particularly in the Occitan-speaking regions of Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Corsica. It is also widespread in the French Caribbean island of Martinique, where it is one of the most common surnames. The name is also found in other French-speaking parts of the world, particularly in French-speaking parts of Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada and Haiti. It has also spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, where it is quite rare.
Outside of France, the surname is quite rare in most other European countries and is not common at all in the United Kingdom or the rest of the Commonwealth. However, it was documented in England in the late 18th century and there is evidence that the name was brought to North America by some of the earliest settlers of the continent. The name Guilaume is also found in countries with significant French-speaking populations and is particularly common in Switzerland and Belgium.
In the United States, the surname Guilaume is found mainly in the South, particularly Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. It can also be found in parts of the Midwest, such as Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, as well as in other states with a large presence of French-speaking immigrants, such as Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York. The surname is also widespread in other parts of the world, including Latin America, particularly Haiti, and in parts of Africa, particularly the Republic of the Congo.
Variations of the surname Guilaume
The surname Guilaume has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of the surname are Willaume, Willaumey, Yllaume, and Guilmard. These spellings originated in France and the derivations of the surname are from the popularsworn Old Germanic masculine given name “Wilhelm”, meaning “Protector of the People”.
In addition to the traditional spellings, there are several other variant spellings for the surname Guilaume. These variants include Guillaume, Willam, Gillam, Gigot, Gillom, Giliam, Gilliam, Guilmot, and Gillem. These variant spellings are mainly found in France, Switzerland, Belgium, and surrounding areas.
Common surnames with the same origin as Guilaume include Willette, Wilette, Wilmont, Wilmott, Wilder, Willers, Willems, Wilkerson, Wilkes, Willard, Wilkin, Willmore, Willig, Wilson, Willson, Wiltshire, Wiltsie, and Wilcox. Many of these surnames originated in England, Germany, and other countries in Northern Europe during the Middle Ages.
Finally, the origin of the Guilaume family name also has Roman influences. Variants of the surname with Latin roots and pronunciation include “Guilibert” or “Gulbert”. This additional spelling of the surname is mostly found in France, US, Canada, and other European countries.
Overall, the surname Guilaume and its many variants are prevalent throughout northern Europe and have been in existence for centuries. It’s believed that the surname originates from the French word “guillaume”, meaning “protector of the people”. Its variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin reflect the cultural heritage and influence of Roman, Germanic, and French languages and cultures.
Famous people with the name Guilaume
- Robert Guillaume: Robert Guillaume was an American actor who was best known for his role as Benson on the TV show of the same name in the late 1970s to early 1980s. He is also known for appearing as Isaac Jaffe on the show Sports Night from 1998 to 2000.
- George Guillaume: George Guillaume was a French poet and writer who was an early leader of the Symbolist movement. He is most well-known for his book of poetry called Les Nourritures Terrestres, which is considered an influential work in French literature.
- Ekwensi Guillaume: Ekwensi Guillaume is a Nigerian author who specializes in writing literature for children and young adults. He is one of the pre-eminent authors of Nigerian literature and is credited with popularizing animal stories and folk tales as a literary form.
- Rémy Guillaume: Rémy Guillaume is a French painter and sculptor whose work primarily centers around the human figure and its surroundings. Most of his artwork is acrylic on canvas and features a unique and expressive use of color.
- James Guillaume: James Guillaume was a Swiss-born French anarchist who was a leader of the anarchist movement in Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was a noted philosopher and theorist of the labor movement, particularly within the syndicalist tradition.
- Mathieu Guillaume: Mathieu Guillaume is a French professional golfer who currently plays on the European Tour. He currently holds the record for most European Tour wins by a French player and was named European Tour Golfer of the Year in 2017.