The name was derived from Willem Willink, one of the original investors of the Holland Land Company.
New towns continued to be formed from Willink until 1818, when Holland and Wales were the last to be partitioned.
The citizens of the remaining portion of Willink voted to change the town's name to Aurora, effective the same date as the formation of Holland and Wales.
The village of Willink continued to exist and incorporated in 1849, but eventually was renamed East Aurora.
In 1874 the village disincorporated, but a post office remained at the west end of the new village of East Aurora until 1913, when it was consolidated with the East Aurora Post Office.