English
Wilson
From Will (short form of William) + -son.
Formed from Will + -son
Proto-Indo-European *welh₁- ‘to choose, wish’
…
Proto-Germanic *wiljaną ‘to want’
Proto-West Germanic *willjan ‘to want’
Old English willan ‘to want’
Middle English willen ‘to want something’
English Will
Today it means
name An English, Scottish and northern Irish surname originating as a patronymic.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Wilson