Wilms History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The German state of Prussia, which reached the zenith of its power in the late 19th century, is the glorious birthplace of the distinguished surname Wilms. In the medieval era, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the German lands were inhabited by a variety of Barbarian tribes. The borders of the Barbarian kingdoms changed frequently, but the region that became known in Prussia was roughly divided between the areas of Brandenburg-Prussia, West Prussia, and East Prussia. The colorful history of Brandenburg-Prussia, which is essentially the birthplace of modern Germany, provides a glimpse at the oldest origins of the Wilms family.

Early Origins of the Wilms family

The surname Wilms was first found in northern Germany, where the name was associated in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history. The name would eventually emerge as belonging to a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs. Its use as a Surname must be traced back to its immense popularity as a first name early in the Middle Ages. Indeed, one chronicle mentions a knight's feast in Bayeux around 1171 A.D. in which alone 117 Wilhelms were listed as taking part.

Early History of the Wilms family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wilms research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1709, 1812, 1845 and 1864 are included under the topic Early Wilms History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wilms Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Wilms include Wilhelm, Wilhem, Wilhelmi (Latinized), Wilhelmy, Wilhelmus (Latinized), Wilhelms, Wilhelmsen (Holstein), Wilhalm (Bavaria, Austria), Wilms (Friesland) and many more.

Early Notables of the Wilms family

More information is included under the topic Early Wilms Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wilms migration to the United States +

Since medieval times, the state of Prussia has played an important part in the history of Germany. The state's military powers were historically very strong, and endured until after the Second World War, when the territory was broken up and divided between the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany. A spurt of migration followed, with some Prussians going elsewhere in Europe and many others crossing the ocean to North America. Most entered the United States through Philadelphia. Some remained there, while more moved on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Others traveled to Canada and settled Ontario and the prairie provinces. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Wilms or a variant listed above:

Wilms Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johann Christian Wilms, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1774 1

Wilms Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry Wilms, who landed in Mississippi in 1840 1
Henrich Wilms, who arrived in Mississippi in 1846 1
Joachim Wilms, who arrived in Galveston, Tex in 1850 1
Abrah Wilms, aged 15, who landed in New York, NY in 1875 1
Agau Wilms, aged 13, who arrived in New York, NY in 1875 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Wilms (post 1700) +

André Wilms (1947-2022), French film and television actor who also appeared in German and Finnish films, winner of the Best Supporting European Actor award at the 1992 European Film Awards
David Wilms (b. 1963), German television host
Friedrich Wilms (1848-1919), German apothecary and botanical collector
Dorothee Wilms (b. 1929), German politician, Federal Minister for Education and Science (1987 to 1991)
Carl Max Wilhelm Wilms (1867-1918), German pathologist and surgeon
Johann Wilhelm Wilms (1772-1847), Dutch-born, German composer, known for writing Wien Neêrlands Bloed, the Dutch national anthem from 1815 to 1932
Eva Wilms (b. 1952), retired West German shot putter
André Wilms (b. 1947), French film and television actor

Citations +

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)