| ![Show Contents]() Wilken History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England
Etymology of WilkenWhat does the name Wilken mean? Wilken is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. Wilken is a name that comes from the Norman personal name William, which is derived from the words will, meaning resolution and helm, meaning armed. 1 2 Early Origins of the Wilken familyThe surname Wilken was first found in Glamorganshire, Wales where they held a family seat from early times. They were descended from Robert de Wintona, one of twelve knights who came into Glamorgan with Robert Fitzhamon, a Norman noble, in 1066. Fitzhamon was Sheriff of Kent, England and founder of Tewkesbury. 3 The Pipe Rolls for Northumberland, England list the name Wilechm in 1166 and later Wilekinus was found in the Hampshire Pipe Rills for 1191. Richard Wilekin was found in the Pipe Rolls for Hampshire in 1180 and William Wilekin in the Curia Regis Rolls for London in 1220. Roger Wylkyns was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Staffordshire in 1327. 4 Early History of the Wilken familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wilken research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1558, 1601, 1603, 1614, 1618, 1625, 1626, 1668, 1672, 1685, 1699 and 1745 are included under the topic Early Wilken History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Wilken Spelling VariationsBefore the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Wilken family name include Wilkins, Wilkin, Wilkines, Wilkyn, Wilking and others. Early Notables of the Wilken familyJohn Wilkins FRS (1614-1672), an English clergyman, natural philosopher and author, founder of the Invisible College and one of the founders of the Royal Society, Bishop of Chester from 1668 until his death.
Thomas Wilkins (1625 or 1626-1699), was a Welsh cleric and antiquarian; and George Wilkins (died 1618), was an English dramatist and pamphleteer best known for his probable collaboration with Shakespeare on the play Pericles, Prince of Tyre. An inn-keeper by profession, he may have been involved in criminal activities.
David Wilkins (1685-1745), was an English scholar, born of Prussian parentage. His true name...
Another 93 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wilken Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Wilken Rankingthe United States, the name Wilken is the 11,278th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5
| Wilken migration to the United States | + |
To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Wilken family to immigrate North America:
Wilken Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Fra Wilken, who arrived in Virginia in 1648 6
Wilken Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Adolphus Christian Wilken, aged 41, who arrived in St Louis, Missouri in 1842 6
- Carl Wilken, who landed in Peru in 1845 6
- Joh Leon Wilken, who arrived in Texas in 1845 6
- Franz Wilken, who landed in New York, NY in 1850 6
- F T G Wilken, who landed in New York, NY in 1850 6
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Wilken (post 1700) | + |
- Robert Louis Wilken (b. 1936), American historian and former Lutheran minister
- Dorothy Wilken (b. 1936), American politician and former clerk of courts
- Claudia Ann Wilken (b. 1949), American jurist, Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (2014-)
- Brock Wilken (b. 2002), American Major League Baseball third baseman with the Milwaukee Brewers
- Patrick Wilken (b. 1966), Australian scientist and editor
- Friedrich Wilken (1777-1840), German librarian, historian and orientalist
- Charles Wilken (1866-1956), Danish actor who appeared in 32 films between 1916 and 1954
- Aud Wilken (b. 1965), Danish singer
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: Estote prudentes
Motto Translation: Be ye prudent.
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- "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)
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