Surname Willsher - Meaning and Origin

Willsher: What does the surname Willsher mean?

The last name Willsher is an English surname, derived from the Old English terms "willa" and "heorð", meaning "willow tree" and "army" respectively. As such, it is an occupational name that denotes someone who grew or harvested willows for army equipment. This occupation was especially popular in medieval times, when willow wood was a primary material used for constructing anything from weapons to armor.

In the modern age, Willsher remains a popular surname throughout the United Kingdom, with most variants stemming from the original spelling. There are several alternatives that came about as a result of regional accents and dialects - Willshire, Wilshire, Wiltshire, Wilsher, Willshere, Willsor, Willser, and Willsar.

The last name Willsher is associated with noble and upper class British families, historically originating in Norfolk and Suffolk. It is also common in other parts of the country, particularly in Derbyshire, Yorkshire, and Herefordshire.

Apart from its British roots, Willsher can also be found in a few other countries outside of Britain, notably in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand.

The last name Willsher represents a proud history of dedication and hard work. It originated out of a necessity for survival in the medieval period, and has now grown to represent a long line of powerful families and individuals. In essence, Willsher is a legacy.

Willsher: Where does the name Willsher come from?

The last name Willsher is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom, the name is most prominent in the counties of East Sussex, Hampshire, and Kent. In England, the name is often found in rural areas along the English Channel coastline and in the Southwest of the country. In East Sussex, the surname can be found in places such as Rye, Eastbourne, and Hastings. In Hampshire, one can find the surname in places such as Southampton, Fareham, and Portsmouth. Kent is another county where Willsher can be found, most notably in the towns of Sandwich, Ramsgate, and Dover.

The number of Willshers living in the United Kingdom is not readily available, but the name appears in record books that date back hundreds of years. It is believed that some of the earliest members of the Willsher family migrated over from France during the 11th century. Other members of the family have roots in countries as far away as Germany, Italy, and Wales.

The surname also appears in other parts of the world, including the United States, Australia, and Canada. It is also found in places like South Africa, India, and the Caribbean Islands. It appears that the greatest concentration of people with the last name of Willsher can be found in the United Kingdom, however.

Variations of the surname Willsher

The surname Willsher has several potential variants, spellings, and related surnames, stemming from its Old English origin. It was derived from a locational name, referring to the village of Wilsha in Shropshire, England.

Variants of this name include Wilshire, Wilsher, and Wilesher. Other spelling variations include Willshire, Wilcerer, Willcer, Wilcher, Wilshere, Wilshaw, Wilsheir, Willscher, Wilscheer, Wilcherr, Wilscheer, and Wilscherr, among others.

In addition to these variants, Willsher can also be seen as a variation of the more commonly known surname Wilson. Other surnames related to Wilson and derived from its Old English roots are Willson, Willisson, Wilsin, Wilsone, Wilsoun, and Wilshon, among others.

The original prefix of Wil- was also sometimes replaced with variants such as Wol- and Wel-. For example, this could lead to surnames such as Wolshire, Wolsher, Welsher, and Wellsher.

Finally, emigration from the British Isles during the 17th and 18th centuries can also account for some additional spelling variations and variants of the name Willsher. Some of these might include Wilshan, Willshen, Willchan, and Willchen.

Famous people with the name Willsher

• Kate Willsher: British actress best known for appearing on GBBO, episodes of Holby City, and as Lela Iyare in the television series My Parents Are Aliens.
• Michael Willsher: Former English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Kent in 1974 and 1975.
• Paul Willsher: British entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist and one of the founders of the do-it-yourself retailer Homebase.
• Peter Willsher: British army major and recipient of the Military Cross.
• Shawn Willsher: Art director at Playtonic Games, best known for his work on the Yooka-Laylee video game.
• Donna Willsher: British Olympic medalist in the discus, for the Great Britain in the 1976 Montreal Games.
• Laura Willsher: English journalist who served as editor of the Daily Mail for five years.
• Martin Willsher: British obstetrician and gynecologist who held the position of President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists from 1998 to 2001.
• Henry Willsher: British agricultural scientist and author of numerous works on the subject, including The Farmer's Book of Technically and Economically Useful Facts, published in 1878.
• Mark Willsher: Stunt coordinator on films such as the Harry Potter series.

Other surnames

WillsheereWillshire