A Welsh, German and English surname, William comes from the Old French term ‘guillaume’ and the Old German terms of ‘will helm’ and ‘willelm’. The terms referred to a helmet for protection. The spelling variations for William include Guilliams, Williams, Quilliams, Guilliam. In Spanish the William name is spelled Guillermo and in Italian it is Guglielmo. In Wales the William surname began in the Breconshire and Monmouthshire region near the English border. It is a very popular and common surname in Wales. In England the William surname is common in the city of London and north to Lancashire and Yorkshire. In Scotland the William surname is scattered across all regions. The greatest concentrations are in Aberdeenshire, Angus, Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire, Midlothian and Inverness-shire. Within the United States the William family name is very popular all along the southern states, ranging from Virginia to Texas. The name is also popular in New York, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Famous: James William (professional football player).