William Paterson
Name meaning, origin and global statistics
William Paterson is a name that combines Germanic origins. The first name William is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. From the Old High German Willahelm, composed of wil (will, desire) and helm (helmet, protection). Introduced to England by William the Conqueror in 1066. The surname Paterson: Adrian Paterson, South African-Australian nuclear scientist Aileen Paterson (1934–2018), Scottish children's writer Alasdair Paterson, Scottish poet Alex Paterson (born 1959), English musician Alexander Paterson (1844–1908), Australian politician Sir Alexander Paterson (1884–1947), British prison reformer Algy Paterson (died 1995), Australian last speaker of the Martuthunira language Andrew J. Paterson (born 1952), Canadian artist Archie Paterson (1908–1995), Scottish footballer Banjo Paterson (1864–1941), Australian poet Barbara Paterson (born 1935), Canadian sculptor Basil A. William is one of the most widespread first names worldwide, carried by approximately 3.7 million people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name William reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.
Etymology & Origin
First Name: William
Meaning: strong protector
Germanic
From the Old High German Willahelm, composed of wil (will, desire) and helm (helmet, protection). Introduced to England by William the Conqueror in 1066.
Surname: Paterson
Scottish
Adrian Paterson, South African-Australian nuclear scientist Aileen Paterson (1934–2018), Scottish children's writer Alasdair Paterson, Scottish poet Alex Paterson (born 1959), English musician Alexander Paterson (1844–1908), Australian politician Sir Alexander Paterson (1884–1947), British prison reformer Algy Paterson (died 1995), Australian last speaker of the Martuthunira language Andrew J. Paterson (born 1952), Canadian artist Archie Paterson (1908–1995), Scottish footballer Banjo Paterson (1864–1941), Australian poet Barbara Paterson (born 1935), Canadian sculptor Basil A.
Geographic Distribution
The first name William is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:
Popularity Over Time
Popularity of the name William by decade, based on birth registration data:
Name Variants & Related Names
The name William has several variants and related forms across different languages and cultures:
Notable People Named William Paterson
People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.
Numerology
According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for William Paterson:
Wisdom and introspection. A deep, analytical mind drawn to philosophy, spirituality and the search for truth.
Stability and hard work. Represents practicality, reliability and dedication — someone who builds solid foundations.
Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.
Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the origin of the first name William?
- The first name William originates from Germanic. From the Old High German Willahelm, composed of wil (will, desire) and helm (helmet, protection). Introduced to England by William the Conqueror in 1066.
- When was William most popular?
- The name William reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
- What is the origin of the surname Paterson?
- The surname Paterson originates from Scottish. Adrian Paterson, South African-Australian nuclear scientist Aileen Paterson (1934–2018), Scottish children's writer Alasdair Paterson, Scottish poet Alex Paterson (born 1959), English musician Alexander Paterson (1844–1908), Australian politician Sir Alexander Paterson (1884–1947), British prison reformer Algy Paterson (died 1995), Australian last speaker of the Martuthunira language Andrew J. Paterson (born 1952), Canadian artist Archie Paterson (1908–1995), Scottish footballer Banjo Paterson (1864–1941), Australian poet Barbara Paterson (born 1935), Canadian sculptor Basil A.
- What are the origins of the name William Paterson?
- The name William Paterson combines two different traditions: the first name William has Germanic roots, while the surname Paterson originates from Scottish.