Wilker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Wilker is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Wilker comes from the Norman personal name Wilkins, which in turn is derived from the name William. William, which is derived from the words will, meaning resolution and helm, meaning armed. [1]

Early Origins of the Wilker family

The surname Wilker was first found in Durham where they held a family seat from early times. They were descended from Robert de Wintona, of Glamorgan, 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. [2]

"This name is almost entirely confined to the northern half of England, as defined by a line drawn west from the Wash. It is best represented in Northumberland, Durham, Yorkshire, and Lancashire, and is also fairly numerous in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and Cheshire. " [3]

Early rolls provided a wide range of spellings that have been used over the centuries: Roger Wyleconsesone, found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1332; and Thomas Wilkynson in the Subsidy Rolls for Cumberland in 1332. [4] The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Adam Wylkynson and Thomas Wylkynson. [5]

Early History of the Wilker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wilker research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1250, 1566, 1586, 1597, 1601, 1610, 1613, 1616, 1646, 1647, 1650, 1675, 1690, 1728, 1738, 1797, 1798, 1808, 1875 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Wilker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wilker Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Wilkinson, Wilkisson, Wilkiesson and others.

Early Notables of the Wilker family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Henry Wilkinson (1610-1675), an English clergyman, Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity, and member of the Westminster Assembly. He was the son of Henry Wilkinson (1566-1647), by his wife Sarah, was born at Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire. His father, who was elected fellow of Merton College, Oxford, in 1586, was created B.D. on 7 July 1597, and was from 1601 till his death on 19 March 1646-1647 rector of Waddesdon. Henry the younger was Canon of Christ Church, Oxford, son of Henry Wilkinson (1566-1647.) [6]Henry Wilkinson (1616-1690), was an English clergyman and academic, Principal of Magdalen...
Another 226 words (16 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wilker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wilker Ranking

In the United States, the name Wilker is the 16,670^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [7]

Migration of the Wilker family to Ireland

Some of the Wilker family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wilker migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Wilker or a variant listed above:

Wilker Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Wilker, who landed in Massachusetts in 1751 [8]
Christr Wilker, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1761 [8]

Wilker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Christoph Henry Wilker, aged 40, who landed in St Louis, Missouri in 1848 [8]
Francis Wilker, aged 23, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1849 [8]
Eduard Wilker, aged 17, who landed in New York, NY in 1850 [8]
John Henry Wilker, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1852 [8]

Contemporary Notables of the name Wilker (post 1700) +

José Wilker de Almeida (1947-2014), Brazilian film, stage and television actor and director

The Wilker 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: Non mihi sed tibi gloria
Motto Translation: Glory to thee, not to me.

Citations +

Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)