Willey is a name of English origin, derived from the Old English word "will", which means "resolute power" or "strong-willed". The name Willey was popular during the Middle Ages in England and is believed to have been brought to America by early settlers.
The name Willey has a long history and has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the most famous bearers of the name was Sir John Willey, who was an English nobleman and politician during the reign of King Henry VIII. He served as a Member of Parliament for several constituencies and was also appointed as Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1542.
Another notable figure bearing the name Willey was William Willey, who was an American clergyman and one of the founding fathers of the Episcopal Church in the United States. He served as the Bishop of Massachusetts from 1787 until his death in 1821.
The name Willey has also been used as a surname, with early records dating back to the 13th century in England. The name is believed to have originated as an occupational surname for a willow basket maker or a variant of the name Willys, which was derived from the Middle English word "wil", meaning "willow".
Overall, Willey is a strong and powerful name with a rich history and several notable figures associated with it. Despite its English origins, the name has been adopted by people around the world and continues to be used today as both a given name and surname.
The name Willey has a unique and varied history of usage in the United States, as reflected by the birth statistics provided. Between 1914 and 2009, there were a total of 282 babies born with the first name Willey.
Throughout this period, the popularity of the name fluctuated significantly from year to year. The highest number of births in any given year was 14 in 1924, while some years saw only 5 births each (such as 1937 and 1938). It's interesting to note that there were no recorded births with the name Willey between the years 1945 and 1948, and again from 1956 to 1960.
The late 1970s and early 1980s saw a resurgence in the usage of the name Willey, with 6 births recorded in both 1984 and 1989. However, since then, there have been no further records of babies named Willey.
This data demonstrates how the popularity of certain names can wax and wane over time, influenced by various social, cultural, and personal factors. It's fascinating to observe the ebb and flow of the name Willey throughout the course of a century in the United States.