name
Common
Wilson
WIHL-suhn
Wilson (name) means an English and Scottish surname meaning "son of Will," one of the most common surnames in English-speaking countries. Example: “Woodrow Wilson served as the 28th President of the United States.”
name
1
An English and Scottish surname meaning "son of Will," one of the most common surnames in English-speaking countries.
"Woodrow Wilson served as the 28th President of the United States."
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Word forms
- Plural
- Wilsons
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Can you complete this real example?
Woodrow _____ served as the 28th President of the United States.
Etymology
Formed from Will, a short form of William, plus -son.
Frequently asked questions
What does “Wilson” mean?
The word “Wilson” means an English and Scottish surname meaning "son of Will," one of the most common surnames in English-speaking countries.
How do you pronounce “Wilson”?
“Wilson” is pronounced WIHL-suhn (/ˈwɪlsən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Wilson” in a sentence?
Here is “Wilson” used in a sentence: “Woodrow Wilson served as the 28th President of the United States.”
What part of speech is “Wilson”?
“Wilson” is a name.
Is “Wilson” a common word?
“Wilson” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What does the surname Wilson mean?
Wilson is an English and Scottish surname meaning 'son of Will,' Will being a short form of William. It belongs to a large family of patronymic surnames, formed by adding 'son' to a father's name, like Johnson or Robertson. It is one of the most common surnames in English-speaking countries.
How common is the surname Wilson?
Wilson ranks among the most common surnames throughout the English-speaking world, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Its popularity comes from William being an extremely common first name for centuries, which produced many independent 'son of Will' family lines across Britain.
Where does the surname Wilson come from?
Wilson originated in England and Scotland as a patronymic, meaning it identified someone as the son of a man named Will or William. Such surnames became fixed and hereditary in the medieval period. Because William was so widespread, the Wilson name arose separately in many different families and regions.
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