Show ContentsWild History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Wild surname, of Norman ancestry, was a name given to 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 Wild family

The surname Wild 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 Wild family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wild 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 Wild History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wild Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Wild, Wilde, Wildee, Wylde and others.

Early Notables of the Wild 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...
  • Sir William Wilde (1611?-1679), English jurist, born about 1611, the son of William Wilde, a London vintner residing in Bread Street. On 3 Nov. 1659 he was elected rRcorder of London. [1]
  • Robert Wild or Wylde (1609-1679), was an English Puritan divine and poet, son of Robert Wild, a shoemaker of St. Ives, Huntingdonshire
  • Jonathan Wild (1683-1725) was an infamous English criminal, who organized a large network of thieves, and deceived authorities by aiding in capture of criminals and recovery of stolen goods. Born at W...

Wild World Ranking

In the United States, the name Wild is the 3,921st most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. [2] However, in France, the name Wild is ranked the 4,159th most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. [3] And in Australia, the name Wild is the 989th popular surname with an estimated 4,018 people with that name. [4] New Zealand ranks Wild as 876th with 834 people. [5] The United Kingdom ranks Wild as 593rd with 11,023 people. [6]

Ireland Migration of the Wild family to Ireland

Some of the Wild 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.


United States Wild migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Wild or a variant listed above:

Wild Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Robert Wild, (Wile), aged 21, who settled in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Paul"
  • William, John and Jo Wild, who all, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1635
  • Alice Wild, aged 40, who arrived in New England aboard the ship "Elizabeth" in 1635 [7]
  • Jo Wild, aged 17, who arrived in New England aboard the ship "Elizabeth" in 1635 [8]
  • Mr. William Wild, aged 30, who arrived in New England aboard the ship "Elizabeth" in 1635 [8]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Wild Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Wild, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1703 [7]
  • Johann Georg Wild, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1730 [7]
  • Valentin Wild, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1732
  • Abraham Wild, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1751 [7]
  • Jacob Wild, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1752 [7]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Wild Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • David Wild, who landed in America in 1807 [7]
  • Casper Wild, aged 24, who landed in St Louis, Missouri in 1841 [7]
  • Charles Wild, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 [7]
  • Harriet Wild, who landed in New York, NY in 1844 [7]
  • Henry Wild, aged 21, who arrived in St Louis, Missouri in 1846 [7]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Wild Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Miss Mary A. Wild, aged 19, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863
  • Miss Sarah J. Wild, aged 20, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863

Canada Wild migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Wild Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Joseph Wild, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Margereta Wild, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
  • Barnard Wild, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
  • Elisabeth Wild, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757

Australia Wild migration to Australia +

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

Wild Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Wild Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Wild, English convict from Shropshire, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia [10]
  • Mr. John Wild, (Ward), (b. 1785), aged 35, Irish waterman who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for felony, transported aboard the "Dorothy" on 5th May 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [11]
  • John Wild, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Argyle" on March 5th, 1831, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia [12]
  • Miss Rebecca Wild, (b. 1813), aged 19, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 14th July 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1909 [13]
  • Mr. William Wild, British convict who was convicted in Guernsey for 14 years, transported aboard the "Captain Cook" on 2nd May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [14]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Wild 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:

Wild Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Edward Wild, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1843
  • Frederick Wild, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Theresa" in 1844
  • Mr. Richard Wild, Cornish settler travelling from Launceston, UK aboard the ship "Border Maid" arriving in New Zealand in 1851 [15]
  • Mr. Wild, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Simlah" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 10th June 1853 [16]
  • Mrs. Wild, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Simlah" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 10th June 1853 [16]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Wild migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [17]
Wild Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • John Wild, who settled in Barbados in 1654

Contemporary Notables of the name Wild (post 1700) +

  • Harry J. Wild A.S.C. (1901-1961), American film and television cinematographer, Academy Award co-nominee
  • John Daniel Wild (1902-1972), American philosopher
  • Earl Wild (1915-2010), American pianist
  • Payson Sibley Wild (1905-1998), American educator and political scientist, Dean of Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University (1946-1949)
  • Horace B Wild (d. 1940), American aviator
  • Patricia Wild, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1972 [18]
  • Nathan Wild, American politician, Member of New Hampshire State Senate 9th District, 1833-35 [18]
  • Max M. Wild, American politician, First Selectman of Hartford, Connecticut, 1926-27 [18]
  • Lilas Wild, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Florida, 2004 [18]
  • Claude C. Wild, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 1940 [18]
  • ... (Another 18 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hillsborough disaster
  • Martin Kenneth Wild (1959-1989), English printing worker who was attending the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough Stadium, in Sheffield, Yorkshire when the stand allocated area became overcrowded and 96 people were crushed in what became known as the Hillsborough disaster and he died from his injuries [19]
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Harry Wild, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking [20]
RMS Lusitania
  • Miss Agnes Wild, English 2nd Class passenger residing in Paterson, New Jersey, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking by escaping on a starboard boat (13 it is believed) [21]
  • Miss Evelyn Norbury Wild, English 2nd Class passenger residing in Paterson, New Jersey, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking by escaping on a starboard boat (13 it is believed) [21]


The Wild 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.


Suggested Readings for the name Wild +

  • The Shepard Genealogy by Lowell Shepard Blaisdell.

  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  4. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  5. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  6. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  7. 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)
  8. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  10. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dorothy
  12. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Argyle voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1831 with 251 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/argyle/1831
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fanny
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/captain-cook
  15. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  18. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  19. Hillsborough Victims (retreived 21st March 2021). Retreived from https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/15/remembering-96-victims-hillsborough-disaster-30-years-9206566/
  20. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  21. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


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