Surname Willington - Meaning and Origin

Willington: What does the surname Willington mean?

The surname Willington is believed to have been derived from either a location or a nickname. It is an English surname with Anglo-Saxon roots, originating from Wiland or Wilwold.

Willington may have originally been derived from a location, and it is possible that a town or village was once known as Wiland or Wilwold somewhere in the area. It's also possible that the surname originated as a nickname, derived from the name Will and a suffix of the Old English word ‘ing’, which was used to denote someone who lived in or owned a particular place.

The Willington family were traditionally found in the majority of all English counties, especially the Midlands and North of England. Over time, the surname spread to Scotland and Ireland, and later to the United States and Canada. Bearers of the surname Willington descend from the Anglo-Saxon stock, and were a prominent family in the northern English county of Lancashire.

Throughout history, the surname has many variations including Willington, Willyngton, Willenton, Williton, Wylinton, Wylenton, Wyliton, and Wylynton. Many members of the Willington family rose to prominence throughout the years, such as William Willington, who was a member of parliament in the 17th century, and John Willington, a one-time mayor of Nottingham.

Willington: Where does the name Willington come from?

The last name Willington is quite common throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other parts of the Commonwealth. It is also found in countries in Europe such as France, Germany, and Italy, as well as in the Philippines, India, and Brazil.

In the United States, the cities where the last name is most prevalent are New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, and Philadelphia. Generally, it is found more frequently in the Northeastern and Southeastern states than in the West or Midwest.

In the United Kingdom, the name is most prominent in London, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Manchester. It is also common in other parts of England as well as Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.

In Australia, most of the bearers of the last name Willington live in the major cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. It is also found throughout the continent, from Tasmania and Canberra to the Northern Territory.

Overall, the surname Willington is widely distributed throughout the world, with many families located in some of the largest and most influential centers in the world.

Variations of the surname Willington

The surname Willington is derived from a place-name in the English county of Staffordshire. It can be found in records as far back as the 12th century. It is a topographical surname, meaning that it was given to people who lived or worked near the place of origin.

Variants of the surname Willington include Willington, Willinton, Wilington, Wilinton, Wylinton, Wilington, Wyl lington, Willyngton, Wilyngton, Wyllington, and Wylyngton.

The modern spellings associated with the surname have changed over time, but the root origin remains the same. Some spellings are more obscure than others, but all are derived from the original form of Willington.

Surnames of the same origin as Willington include Willing, Wilings, Wyllen, Wyllans, Wolley, Willardson, Wollington, and Wollings.

Different spellings and alternate surnames typically reflect geographical features of the area from which the name is derived. For example, a 'ton' suffix after the name suggests that the origin of the surname is a town or village with the same name. Similarly, surnames ending in 'ings' refer to someone from a particular place who lived close to a specific feature, such as a stream.

Given the number of different spellings and surnames, people with the same family name could come from a variety of geographic locations. However, all versions of the name share the same origin and lineage.

Famous people with the name Willington

• John Willington: English actor, best known for his roles in films such as Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Captain Marvel.
• Richard Willington: British politician who served as the Member of Parliament for North West Durham from 1950-1950.
• Jules Willington: French aeronautical engineer and professor of aerodynamics at the University of Paris.
• William Willington: American author and history professor at Stanford University who has written numerous books about the history of colonial America.
• Edward Willington: English composer famous for writing the popular Christmas carol, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”.
• Albert Willington: African-American actor, best known for his supporting role in the groundbreaking 1970s TV show, Roots.
• Howard Willington: English soccer player, who played for Northampton Town in the 1960s and 1970s.
• Dorothy Willington: American poet and songwriter known for her work on the musicals, Finian's Rainbow and The Music Man.
• John Willington: Partially-retired English photographer who served in the military during WWII and later enjoyed success as a portrait photographer.
• Kathleen Willington: American folk singer and songwriter best remembered for her song, “The Wailin' Willingtons”, which became a popular folk classic in the 1950s.

Other surnames

WillingWillinghamWillinghartWillingsWillington.