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Williams-hall Family History

Williams-hall Surname Meaning

The surname Williams-Hall is a compound surname that combines two distinct elements: Williams and Hall. The first part, Williams, is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the personal name William, which itself comes from the Old Germanic elements 'wil' meaning 'will' or 'desire' and 'helm' meaning 'helmet' or 'protection'. As a patronymic surname, it indicates 'son of William' and has been widely adopted in England and Wales, especially from the 12th century onward.

The second element, Hall, is also of English origin, derived from the Middle English word 'hal', which means 'hall' or 'manor house'. This surname may have originally been a topographic name for someone who lived near a hall or a significant building. The Hall surname became common in England and can be traced back to various regions, often indicating nobility or a person of some standing within a community.

The combination of these two surnames into Williams-Hall suggests a lineage that may have had connections to both the heritage represented by the name Williams and a residential or occupational association with a hall or large dwelling. Compound surnames like this one became more prevalent in England, particularly in the 19th century, often signifying the merging of families or the acknowledgment of both maternal and paternal lineages.

Geographically, the surname Williams-Hall and its components can be found across England, with the highest concentrations in Wales and the West Midlands. The migration of families bearing this surname to other countries, particularly during the colonial period, has led to its presence in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Spelling variants of the surname Williams include Williamson and Willoughby, while Hall may appear as Halle or Halls in some records. These variations reflect regional dialects and changes in pronunciation over time. Related surnames may also include other compound forms, such as Williams-Edwards or Williams-Jones, indicating further connections within family trees.

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Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Williams-hall surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

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Census Record

There are 3K census records available for the last name Williams-hall. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Williams-hall census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger List

There are 642 immigration records available for the last name Williams-hall. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Military Records

There are 1K military records available for the last name Williams-hall. For the veterans among your Williams-hall ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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Williams-hall Surname Meaning

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What is the average Williams-hall lifespan?