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Origins Available: |
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The ancestors of the Wilkent family migrated to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The surname Wilkent is based on the Norman personal name William, which is derived from the words will, meaning resolution and helm, meaning armed. 1 2
The surname WilKent was first found in Glamorganshire where they held a family seat from early times. They were descended from Robert de Wintona, one of twelve knights who came into Glamorgan with Robert Fitzhamon, a Norman noble, in 1066. Fitzhamon was Sheriff of Kent and founder of Tewkesbury.
The Pipe Rolls for Northumberland list the name Wilechm in 1166 and later Wilekinus was found in the Hampshire Pipe Rills for 1191. Richard Wilekin was found in the Pipe Rolls for Hampshire in 1180 and William Wilekin in the Curia Regis Rolls for London in 1220. Roger Wylkyns was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Staffordshire in 1327. 3
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wilkent research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1558, 1601, 1603, 1614, 1618, 1625, 1626, 1668, 1672, 1685, 1699 and 1745 are included under the topic Early Wilkent History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Wilkent include Wilkins, Wilkin, Wilkines, Wilkyn, Wilking and others.
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Wilkins FRS (1614-1672), an English clergyman, natural philosopher and author, founder of the Invisible College and one of the founders of the Royal Society, Bishop of Chester from 1668 until his death.
Thomas Wilkins (1625 or 1626-1699), was a Welsh cleric and antiquarian; and George Wilkins (died 1618), was an English dramatist and pamphleteer best known for his probable collaboration with Shakespeare on the play Pericles, Prince of Tyre. An inn-keeper by profession, he may have been involved in criminal activities.
David Wilkins (1685-1745), was an English...
Another 93 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wilkent Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Wilkents to arrive on North American shores: Nicholas Wilking, a juror of St. John's, Newfoundland in 1753; Maudlin Wilkin settled in Barbados in 1654; Bridget and John Wilkines settled in Virginia in 1623.