Guillory
A surname most likely of French origin, probably from a medieval personal name related to William or a similar Germanic name.
The #2,391 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 20,364 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Guillory is most plausibly a French surname formed from a personal name, most likely a regional or altered descendant of William-style Germanic names such as Guillaume. In that case, the underlying elements would be the Germanic roots for "will" or "desire" and "helmet" or "protection," a very common pattern in medieval naming. The ending -ory may reflect a French diminutive, patronymic, or regional development rather than a separate word with a clear meaning today.
History
The name is especially familiar in French-speaking communities, particularly in Louisiana, where many surnames of French origin were preserved and reshaped over time. Its exact pathway is not fully certain, but it fits the broader pattern of French surnames derived from given names and carried to North America through French colonial settlement.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
French surnames ending in -ory often conceal older regional spellings or affectionate forms of a much more familiar given name.
Notable people named Guillory
- Sienna Guillory (b. 1975)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.