Updated: 01-16-2008

William
English: the most successful of all the Germanic names introduced to
England by the Normans. It is composed of the elements wil will, desire
+ helm helmet, protection. The fact that it was borne by the Conqueror
himself does not seem to have inhibited its favour with the 'conquered'
population: in the first century after the Conquest it was the commonest
male name of all, not only among Normans. In the later Middle Ages it
was overtaken by John, but continued to run second to that name until
the 20th century, when the picture became more fragmented. It was a
royal name not only in England, but also in Germany and the Netherlands.
Cognates: Irish Gaelic: Liam. Scottish Gaelic: Uilleam. Welsh: Gwilym.
French: Guillaume. Italian: Guglielmo. Spanish: Guilermo. Catalan:
Guillem. Portuguese: Guilherme. German: Wilhelm. Low German, Dutch:
Willem. Scandinavian: Vilhelm. Czech: Vilem. Hungarian: Vilmos. Finnish:
Vilppu. 

Short forms: English: Will, Bill. German: Wim. 

Pet forms: English and Scottish: Willy, Willie. German: Willi. 

Feminine forms: English: Willa, Wilma, Billie. German: Wilhelmina,
Wilhelmine, Helmine, Helma, Mine. Hungarian: Vilma. A Dictionary of
First Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0192800507 

Last Name 
Schroeder
North German (Schröder): occupational name for a cloth cutter or tailor,
from an agent derivative of Middle Low German schroden, schraden ‘to
cut’. The same term was occasionally used to denote a gristmiller as
well as a shoemaker, whose work included cutting leather, and also a
drayman, one who delivered beer and wine in bulk to customers; in some
instances the surname may have been acquired in either of these senses.
This name is widespread throughout central and eastern Europe.