Where does “Willard” come from?

Willard is an English given name derived from Old English elements wil and harduz from Proto-Germanic, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kert-.

Willard (English): of mostly American usage. Partly transferred back from the surname

Definitions

  1. of mostly American usage. Partly transferred back from the surname

Ancestry of “Willard”, step by step

Willard traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old English heard

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishheardhard, harsh, austere, severe, rigorous, stern,...
2Proto-West Germanichard(ī)hard
3Proto-Germanicharduzhard; brave
4Proto-Indo-Europeankert-times; to weave, twist together; time
5Proto-Turkic*keŕ-to travel, tour

via Old English wīl

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishwīlwile, trick
2Proto-Germanicwīlącraft, deceit
3Proto-Indo-Europeanwéy-—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanéǵh₂I

Words derived from “Willard”

Every word from Proto-Turkic *keŕ- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European kert- →Every word from Proto-Germanic harduz →