William Sandys (1792 – 18 February 1874) (pronounced "Sands") was an English solicitor, member of the Percy Society, fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, and remembered for his publication Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (London, Richard Beckley, 1833), a collection of seasonal carols that Sandys had gathered and also apparently improvised.
Sandys' book marked the first appearances of many now-classic English carols, including "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen", and "The First Noel", and contributed to the mid-Victorian revival of the holiday.
Some few of them are printed occasionally in the country, and also in London, Birmingham, and other places, as broadside carols; others have appeared, with some variation, in Mr. Gilbert's collection, having been derived from similar sources; but a large portion, including some of the most curious, have, I believe, never been printed before."
Among the carols that made their first appearance here are the classics "The First Noel", "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen", "I Saw Three Ships".
Sandys repeated his success with Christmas-tide, Its History, Festivities and Carols, With Their Music (London: John Russell Smith, 1852),[3] where he reprinted many of his finds.