Wilde History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Germany 
  Ireland 


The name Wilde is an ancient name that was given to a person in Britain soon after the arrival of the Normans in the 1066. It is a name for a person who was 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." 1

There may be a Norman connection in that some references refer the name as a variant of the French Le Sauvage. 2 The Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Unfrid Salvage and Walter Salvage in Normandy (1180-1195.) 3

Early Origins of the Wilde family

The surname Wilde was first found in Berkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Wyld Court. 4 The family claims descent from Ulric Wilde, a Domesday tenant in that county. 5

"This ancient English name is mostly confined to the northern midlands, its principal homes being in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and the West Riding [of Yorkshire], whence it has spread to the counties around. " 6

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed various early spelling of the family including: Emma la Willde, Oxfordshire; Walter le Wilde, Suffolk; and William le Wilde, Huntingdonshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed numerous entries for Johannes Wylde. 7

Early History of the Wilde family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wilde research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1508, 1550, 1559, 1584, 1590, 1609, 1611, 1616, 1627, 1660, 1669, 1679 and 1692 are included under the topic Early Wilde History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wilde Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wild, Wilde, Wildee, Wylde, Wildes and others.

Early Notables of the Wilde family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Wilde Ranking

In the United States, the name Wilde is the 3,013rd most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 8 However, in the United Kingdom, the name Wilde is ranked the 886th most popular surname with an estimated 7,728 people with that name. 9

Migration of the Wilde family to Ireland

Some of the Wilde 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.


Wilde migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Wilde Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Wilde Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Wilde Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Wilde migration to Australia +

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

Wilde Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Wilde 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:

Wilde Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Wilde 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. 16
Wilde Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Wilde (post 1700) +


The Wilde 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.
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