Show ContentsWildman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Wildman is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name. It was a name given to a person who was a wild man. A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character.

Early Origins of the Wildman family

The surname Wildman was first found in Berkshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times and were Lords of the manor of Beaucot, before and after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Some of the first records of the name include John Wildeman who was listed on the Close Rolls during the reign of King Richard II, which lasted from 1377 to 1399 and the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 lists Willelmus Wyldman.

Early History of the Wildman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wildman research. Another 56 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1621, 1646, 1647 and 1693 are included under the topic Early Wildman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wildman Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Wildman has appeared include Wildman, Wyldman, Wileman and others.

Early Notables of the Wildman family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Sir John Wildman (c. 1621-1693), an English soldier and politician...
  • In the autumn of 1647, when the soldiers of the new model became suspicious of their leaders for negotiating with Charles I, and some regiments appointed new 'agents' in place of the 'agitators' elect...

Wildman Ranking

In the United States, the name Wildman is the 6,995th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1


United States Wildman migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Wildman arrived in North America very early:

Wildman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Wildman, who landed in Maryland or Virginia in 1669 2
Wildman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Wildman, who settled in New England in 1767
  • Richard Wildman, who settled in Maryland in 1775
Wildman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Richard Wildman, aged 27, who arrived in New York in 1812 2

Canada Wildman migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Wildman Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Ezekial Wildman, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • John Wildman, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Mary Wildman, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750

Australia Wildman migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Wildman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Wildman, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Clyde" on 20th August 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
  • Mr. Alfred Norman Wildman, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Cressy" on 28th April 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Wildman (post 1700) +

  • Leslie Wildman, American composer
  • Steven S. Wildman, American scholar, academician and researcher
  • Herbert "Herbie" Henry Wildman (1912-1989), American water polo player
  • Scott Wildman, American politician, California State Assemblyman
  • George Wildman (b. 1927), American cartoonist
  • Don Wildman (b. 1961), American television host
  • Ira R. Wildman, American Republican politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Danbury, 1910 5
  • Frederick S. Wildman, American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Danbury, 1854, 1856; Member of Connecticut State Senate 11th District, 1860 5
  • David D. Wildman, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Danbury, 1837-38 5
  • Alfred Wildman, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives from Grand Traverse County, 1916 5
  • ... (Another 26 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. James Alison Wildman (d. 1914), British Storekeeper from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 6


The Wildman Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Tentenda via est
Motto Translation: The way must be tried.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clyde
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st May 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cressy
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  6. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html


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