William Constable

(male) Probably the most successful of all the Old French names of Germanic origin that were introduced to England by the Normans. It is derived from Germanic 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, and not only among the 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.

English: occupational name for the law-enforcement officer of a parish, from Middle English, Old French conestable, cunestable, from Late Latin comes stabuli ‘officer of the stable’. The title was also borne by various other officials during the Middle Ages, including the chief officer of the household (and army) of a medieval ruler, and this may in some cases be the source of the surname.