Williard is a name of Germanic origin, derived from the given name William. It is composed of two elements: "will," meaning strong-willed or resolute, and "-hard," signifying strong, hardy, or brave. Thus, Williard can be interpreted as 'resolute protector' or 'strong-willed warrior.' The name gained prominence during the Middle Ages in England and was often bestowed upon children in honor of the Norman conqueror William the Conqueror, who ruled from 1066 to 1087. Williard is considered a strong, distinctive name that has been used throughout history, although it is not as commonly heard today. It is associated with individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including literature, politics, and science.
The name Williard was quite popular between the years 1884 and 1928, with significant fluctuations. It peaked during World War I, reaching an all-time high of 61 births in 1915 and remaining relatively high until 1924. However, it began to decline thereafter, dropping below 30 births per year by the early 1930s. From the mid-1930s onwards, Williard's popularity continued to wane, with fewer than 10 births recorded each year between 1938 and 2002 (the last year for which data is available). Overall, Williard was given to 1,081 newborns over the course of these years.