Kalk History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The founding heritage of the Kalk family is in the Anglo-Saxon culture that once dominated in Britain. The name Kalk comes from when one of the family worked as a whitewasher. Medieval buildings weren't painted, for paint was very expensive in the Middle Ages. Instead, they were whitewashed; covered in a paint-like emulsion of lime. It served to protect the houses against water, as well as look better. However, it didn't last very long; houses needed to be whitewashed at least twice a year, in the spring and fall. A "chalker" was a professional whitewasher; the name was originally derived from the Old English word cealcian, which meant "to whiten." 1

Alternatively, the name could have been a topographic name for "someone who lived on a patch of chalk soil." 1 And finally, another source presumes that the name was "well known earth; a locality. Chalk, Saxon, a servant or attendant." 2

Early Origins of the Kalk family

The surname Kalk was first found in Kent, in the parish of Chalk, in the union of North Aylesford, hundred of Shamwell where "this name is principally found, there is a parish and a hundred so designated, and there is also in county Wiltshire, a parish called Broad-Chalk." 3

More recently, Chalk is a suburb which adjoins the east of Gravesend, Kent. The place name is derived from the Old English word Cealc and was listed as Cealca 4 in the 10th century and as Celca 5 in the Domesday Book. "The church is very ancient, and has various figures carved over the entrance, the origin and meaning of which have caused much controversy." 6

The first record of the family was Walter de Chelka who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire in 1177. Ralph de Chalke was later found in Cheshire in 1268 and William atte Chalke was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list William Choc in Shropshire. Kirby's Quest noted Reginald Chock in Somerset, 1 Edward III. 7 8

Early History of the Kalk family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kalk research. Another 167 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1600, 1624, 1675, 1683, 1741 and 1767 are included under the topic Early Kalk History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kalk Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Kalk has been spelled many different ways, including Chalk, Chaulk, Chaulke, Chaulkey, Chalke, Chalker, Chalkley, Caulk, Caulke, Kalke and many more.

Early Notables of the Kalk family

Notables of the family at this time include John Chalkhill (fl. 1600), poet, was the author of a work which was published under the title of 'Thealma and Clearchus. A Pastoral History in smooth and easie Verse. Written long since by John Chalkhill, Esq., an Acquaintant and Friend of Edmund Spencer,' London, 1683, 8vo. 9Thomas Chalkley (1675-1741), English Quaker, was the son of George Chalkley, a Quaker tradesman in Southwark, was sent to a day school when nine years old. "Chalkley was fond of gambling till, when he was ten years old...
Another 92 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kalk Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kalk migration to Canada +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Kalks to arrive in North America:

Kalk Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Anna Kalk, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1855
Gottlieb Kalk, aged 25, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1855
Magdalene Kalk, aged 19, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1855

Contemporary Notables of the name Kalk (post 1700) +

David Kalk (d. 2011), American actor, known for Green Vial
Stanton Frederick Kalk (1894-1917), American officer in the United States Navy during World War I who received the Navy's Distinguished Service Medal for his actions after his ship was torpedoed by a German submarine
Jay Kalk (b. 1975), AKA Jay Ernest, AKA Jayder is an American and International touring and recording artist formerly based out of Los Angeles, Phoenix, Honolulu, known for his Church of Cash, a Johnny Cash Tribute show
Curtis Leroy Kalk, American Ojibwe politician for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Minnesota, the tribe's Secretary/Treasurer, Speaker of the Band Assembly
Brian Kalk (b. 1966), American North Dakota Republican Party politician in North Dakota who served on the North Dakota Public Service Commission from 2009 to 2017
Wolfgang Kalk (b. 1991), German actor, known for Im Kreise der Lieben
Nicola J Kalk, British Clinical Lecturer, King's College London

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, 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)
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.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print