Wildt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
Germany

The history of the Wildt family name begins in the German province of Bavaria. Wildt is a nickname surname, a class of German names derived from eke-names, or added names, that described people by a personal characteristic or other attribute. Wildt is a name for a person who was extremely wild and passionate. The surname Wildt is derived from the German word wild, which means the same in English.

Early Origins of the Wildt family

The surname Wildt was first found in Bavaria, where the name contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation that would later play an important role in the tribal and national conflicts of the area. The Wiltz variant claim descendancy from the eponymous Wiltz, a city in north-western Luxembourg, capital of the canton Wiltz, home of the Wiltz Castle which belonged to the former Counts of Wiltz.

Early History of the Wildt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wildt research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1573 and 1855 are included under the topic Early Wildt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wildt Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Wildt include Wilder, Wildt, Wilde, Wild, Wilt, Wildter and others.

Early Notables of the Wildt family

Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wildt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wildt migration to the United States +

European migration to North America began in the mid-17th century and continued unabated until the mid-20th. Many Bavarians made the long trip to escape poverty or persecution based on their religious beliefs. The chance for tenant farmers to own their own land was also a major drawing card. They settled all across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many came to Canada also, settling in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Wildts to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Wildt Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johannes Wildt, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1744 1
Veronica Maria Wildt, who landed in America in 1751 1

Wildt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Emanuel Wildt, who settled in Michigan in 1841
George Wildt, who settled in Baltimore in 1844
Balthasar Joh Wildt, who landed in America in 1847 1
Wantelean Wildt, aged 22, who arrived in St Louis, Missouri in 1849 1
Friederike Wildt, who arrived in North America in 1850
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Wildt Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Henrietta M. Wildt, aged 40, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Panama" from Cristobal 2
Edmond Wildt, aged 11, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Panama" from Cristobal 2
Else Hoffman Wildt, aged 24, originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Frederik VIII" from Copenhagen, Denmark 2
Stephanie Wildt, aged 27, originally from Plechingen, Germany, who arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Mount Clinton" from Hamburg, Germany 2
Karl Wildt, aged 28, originally from Plechingen, Germany, who arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Mount Clinton" from Hamburg, Germany 2

Wildt migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Wildt Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Bernhard Wildt, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1752

Contemporary Notables of the name Wildt (post 1700) +

Rupert Wildt (1905-1976), German-American astronomer, eponym of the Wildt crater on the moon
Jan Wildt (b. 1962), American author of short stories
William C. Wildt, American politician, U.S. Consular Agent in Ruatan, 1898; U.S. Vice Consul in Ceiba, 1905 3

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)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html