Show ContentsWilm History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Wilm family

The surname Wilm was first found in Somerset where they held a family seat from ancient times and the Chief branch resided at Ilchester, but the senior branched removed to Poundsford Park in that shire.

Welham is a parish, in the union of Mahket-Harborough, hundred of Gartree, S. division of the county of Leicester. 1 ANd Welham is a village in the civil parish of Clarborough and Welham, in the district of Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire. Both date back to the Domesday Book where they were listed as Weleham and Wellun, respectively. It is thought that the place names mean "homestead by the stream" and/or "place at the springs." 2

Early History of the Wilm family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wilm research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wilm History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wilm Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Welman, Wellman and others.

Early Notables of the Wilm family

More information is included under the topic Early Wilm Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


New Zealand Wilm 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:

Wilm Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Hy Wilm, (b. 1853), aged 22, Cornish farm labourer departing on 29th April 1875 aboard the ship "Blairgowrie" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 22nd August 1875 3


The Wilm 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: Dei providentia juvat
Motto Translation: The providence of God is our help.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf


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