One who has a determined disposition, from will, choice, command, and ard, the Teutonic of art, strength, nature, disposition.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.

WILLARD. This family, whose chief habitat is, and has been from the XIII. century, East Sussex and Kent, have a tradition of Norman descent. The name, it is said, was originally Viliard. I see no evidence of this ; and indeed the Saxon, or at least pre-Norman, origin of both name and family is indubitable. Wielard, or Wilard, was a personal name, and it is found in the names of many places, as Wylerdsley, Wyllardssey, Willardby, Willardesham, Willardestone, &o. In Domesday we find the forms Wielardus, AVilardus, Wluard, Wluuard, and Wlward. The lastmentioned occurs in Kent, the county from which the numerous Willards of America deduce themselves. For many speculations on the origin of the name and family, see Willard Memoir, by Joseph Willard, Esq., 8vo. Boston, U.S., 1858.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.