Where does “Wilberforce” come from?
Wilberforce is an Old English name derived from wil, meaning "desire" or "will," combined with a second element of uncertain origin and meaning.
Ancestry of “Wilberforce”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | Wilburg | — |
| 2 | Old English | burh | Alternative form of burg; fortress; hill |
| 3 | Old English | burg | city; town; a fortified place: stronghold, fort,... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | burgz | fortification, stronghold; city |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰr̥ǵʰ- | — |