Contents [hide]

Wilds History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Wilds History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Wilds has a history dating as far back as the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. It was a name for a person of wild or undisciplined character. Looking back even further, we found the name was originally derived from the Old English word wilde, meaning untamed or uncivilized.

Early Origins of the Wilds family

The surname Wilds was first found in Berkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Wyld Court, being descended from Ulric Wilde, a Domesday tenant in that county.

Early History of the Wilds family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wilds research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1590, 1609, 1610, 1611, 1647, 1648, 1659, 1660, 1665, 1669, 1679, 1682, 1683 and 1725 are included under the topic Early Wilds History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wilds Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Wilds were recorded, including Wild, Wilde, Wildee, Wylde and others.

Early Notables of the Wilds family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Wilde or Wylde (1590-1669), Chief Baron of the exchequer, son and heir of George Wylde of Kempsey, Worcestershire, Serjeant-at-Law. [1]George Wild or Wilde (1610-1665), Bishop of Derry, born 9 Jan. 1609, the son of Henry Wild, a citizen of London. "When the civil war broke out he became preacher to the king at Oxford, and the degree of D.C.L. was conferred on him on 23 Nov. 1647. He was turned out of his fellowship by the parliamentary visitors in 1648, and was sequestered from his living at Biddenden, but continued to officiate...
Another 168 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wilds Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wilds Ranking

In the United States, the name Wilds is the 8,978^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [2]

Migration of the Wilds family to Ireland

Some of the Wilds family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wilds migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Wilds arrived in North America very early:

Wilds Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Storey Wilds, aged 27, who landed in New York in 1812 [3]
Richard Wilds, aged 29, who arrived in St Louis, Missouri in 1849 [3]
J. J. Wilds, aged 43, who arrived in America from Australia, in 1892
Miss J. Wilds, aged 28, who arrived in America from London, England, in 1892
Miss L. Wilds, aged 24, who arrived in America from London, England, in 1892

Wilds Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Thomas Wilds, aged 66, who arrived in America from Newton Heath, England, in 1908
Matilda Wilds, aged 59, who arrived in America from Newton Heath, England, in 1908
Frederick W. Wilds, aged 25, who arrived in America from Newton Heath, England, in 1908
Fred Wilds, aged 23, who arrived in America from Marnhull, England, in 1912
Harry Wilds, aged 21, who arrived in America from Marnhull, England, in 1912
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Wilds migration to Australia +

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

Wilds Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Richard Wilds, Welsh convict who was convicted in Monmouthshire, Wales for life, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 13th March 1828, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [4]
Mr. William Wilds, (Wildes), (b. 1776), aged 58, English brick layer who was convicted in Worcester, Worcestershire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 27th September 1834, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [4]

Wilds migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Wilds Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. John Wilds, (b. 1826), aged 32, British mariner travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Mystery" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 29th March 1859 [5]
Miss Esther Wilds, (b. 1832), aged 26, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Mystery" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 29th March 1859 [5]

Contemporary Notables of the name Wilds (post 1700) +

Tristan Paul Mack Wilds (b. 1989), American actor and recording artist
William Wilds, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Smyrna, Delaware, 1849-52, 1853 [6]
Thomas Wilds, American politician, Postmaster at Dover, Delaware, 1792 [6]
Marie Wilds, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Michigan Democratic State Central Committee, 1937 [6]
Howard P. Wilds, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 21st District, 1895 [6]
Harvey B. M. Wilds, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Circuit Judge in Michigan 3rd Circuit, 1935 [6]
Amon Henry Wilds (1784-1857), English architect
Amon Wilds (1762-1833), English architect and builder, father of and partner of his son, Amon Henry Wilds
Alexander Wilds Chambliss (1864-1947), American politician, Mayor of Chattanooga, Tennessee (1919-1923), Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court
Alexander Wilds Chambliss (1864-1947), American politician, Mayor of Chattanooga, Tennessee, 1919-23; Chief Justice of Tennessee State Supreme Court [7]

The Wilds 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: Veritas victrix
Motto Translation: Truth Conquered.

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, April 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html