Willison

Willison is a surname of English and Scottish origin. It is a patronymic form, meaning “son of Will,” with Will being a diminutive of William. The name has several variants, including Williamson and Willis, and appears in historical records from medieval times onward.

The distribution of Willison-like surnames is primarily in the British Isles, with subsequent spread through migration to North America, Australia, New Zealand, and other English-speaking regions. It is most commonly found in areas with historical Scottish and northern English settlement. In addition to its use as a family name, Willison may appear in place-name elements or street names in regions where families bearing the surname settled.

Notable bearers of the surname have contributed across fields such as politics, science, and the arts, reflecting the name’s long-standing presence in English-speaking societies. The name has been preserved in literature and archival records, where it appears alongside related forms like Williamson and Willis, illustrating common patterns of patronymic surname formation in the region.