Delk History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Scotland

The Anglo-Saxon name Delk comes from the baptismal name meaning the son of Dilk. The surname was originally of Dutch origin and was brought into England during the Norman Conquest of 1066. Baptismal names began to appear as surnames relatively late in the growth of the naming tradition. This is a little surprising, given the popularity of biblical figures in the Christian countries of Europe. Nevertheless, surnames derived from baptismal names grew in popularity during the Middle Ages, and have become one of the foremost sources for surnames.

Early Origins of the Delk family

The surname Delk was first found in Warwickshire. "Maxstoke Castle is the property of Capt. Thomas Dilke, R.N., a descendant of Sir Thomas Dilke, who purchased it in the 41st of Elizabeth from Sir Thomas Egerton, keeper of the great seal: the buildings occupy an irregular quadrilateral area, inclosed by an embattled wall, and defended at the angles by octagonal towers, and are in a fine state of preservation." 1

Other early records of the family include: Geoffrey Dylle who was in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year's reign of Edward III), 2 and the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Alan Dille in Cambridgeshire and Robert Dille in Buckinghamshire. 3

Further to the north in Scotland, "Thomas dictus Dyll witnessed a charter by John Skinner, burgess of Inverness, c. 1360 and Marjorie dicta Dyll held land in Inuernys, 1361." 4

Early History of the Delk family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Delk research. Another 48 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1624, 1633, 1635, 1667, 1692 and 1707 are included under the topic Early Delk History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Delk 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 Delk has appeared include Dilke, Dilkes, Dilks, Dilley, Dill, Dillow and others.

Early Notables of the Delk family

Distinguished members of the family include

Roger Delk (Dilke, Delke, or Dilk) (died before 1635) English-born, representative for Stanley's Hundred in the House of Burgesses. He traveled from England to Virginia aboard the ship "Southampton" i...

Delk Ranking

In the United States, the name Delk is the 6,973^rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 5

Delk 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 Delk arrived in North America very early:

Delk Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Roger Delk, who landed in Virginia in 1624 aboard the ship "Southampton" 6

Delk Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Catha Delk, aged 3, Russian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "S.S. Gellest" in 1876 7
Catha Delk, aged 26, Russian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "S.S. Gellest" in 1876 7
Heinr Delk, aged 20, Russian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "S.S. Gellest" in 1876 7
Charlotte Delk, aged 2, Russian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "S.S. Gellest" in 1876 7
Rosa Delk, aged 30, settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "La Touraine" in 1896 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Delk Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Robert Delk, aged 30, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Majestic" in 1900 7
E. B. Delk, aged 21, settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Moltke" in 1906 7
Jacob Delk, aged 31, Cubian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Havana" in 1908 7
Martha Delk, aged 35, German settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Amerika" in 1909 7
Margaret Delk, aged 18, settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Stephano" in 1911 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Delk (post 1700) +

Lillie Delk, birth name of Lillie Delk Christian, an early 20th-century American early-jazz singer and recording star from Mobile, Alabama, active from 1926 to 1941
Yvonne V. Delk (b. 1939), American leader within the United Church of Christ (UCC), a Christian educator and social justice advocate from Norfolk, Virginia
Edward Buehler Delk (1885-1956), American architect who designed many landmark buildings in the Midwest and Southwest regions of the United States
Denny Delk (b. 1950), American actor and voice actor, best known for providing the voice of Murray in the Monkey Island series
Tony Lorenzo Delk (b. 1974), American former professional basketball player, current assistant coach for the New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball team
Mary Delk, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Texas State Board of Education 9th District, 1998 8
Joseph C. III Delk (b. 1954), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from North Carolina, 1972, 2000; Candidate for North Carolina State House of Representatives 46th District, 2000 8
James Logan Delk (1887-1963), American Democratic Party politician, Pastor ; Candidate in primary for Governor of Kentucky, 1959 8

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"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)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html