Daily AncestorBilly
Billy is an old nickname for William, found in American records of the 1700s and 1800s.
Billy is a pet form of William built on Bill. Nickname lists compiled for 18th and 19th century American research also pair Billy with William.
A gravestone or a family Bible may say Billy while a will or a deed says William. Search indexes under both forms so you do not miss him.
As seen in a recordChurch burial register, 1837; his gravestone reads William
Billy Drinkwater, aged 72, buried Nov. 13, 1837
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Billy." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/nicknames/billy. Last checked 2026-10-15.