English
William
William comes from Old High German Willahelm, and goes back to Proto-Germanic *Wiljahelmaz.
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*Wiljahelmazreconstructed
- Old High Germanc. 750–1050Willahelm
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400Willame
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500William
- Englishearliest quotation 1605same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*Wiljahelmazreconstructed
- Old High Germanc. 750–1050Willahelm
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400Willame
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500William
- Englishearliest quotation 1605same form
Earliest quotation: 1605, William Camden, Remains Concerning Britain: “This name hath been most common in England since…”
Every English word from Proto-Germanic *Wiljahelmaz
Today it means
noun radiotelephony clear-code word for the letter W.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Germanic *Wiljahelmaz / William