| ![Show Contents]() Wilkis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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England
Etymology of WilkisWhat does the name Wilkis mean? The name Wilkis has a rich and ancient history. It is an Anglo-Saxon name that was originally derived from a medieval given name, a short form of William. 1 Wilkis is a patronymic surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Many patronyms were formed when a son used his father's personal name as a surname, while others came from the personal names of famous religious and secular figures. In this case, the surname was originally derived from the popular medieval surname William, which became even more popular after the Norman Conquest of England, in 1066, led by William the Conqueror. Early Origins of the Wilkis familyThe surname Wilkis was first found in Lancashire where as a forename Wylke de Chyrchele was recorded in the Assize Rolls for 1246. Later the mononym, Wilke was recorded in the Assize Rolls for Cheshire in 1286. The Hundredorum Rolls for Bedfordshire included an entry for Roger Wylk in 1279 and later, John Wilkys was registered in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1327. 2 Early History of the Wilkis familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wilkis research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1529, 1535, 1545, 1548, 1551, 1553, 1556, 1564, 1570, 1580, 1598, 1600, 1641, 1665, 1666, 1690, 1691, 1732, 1740 and 1760 are included under the topic Early Wilkis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Wilkis Spelling VariationsBefore English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Wilkis include Wilkes, Wilke, Wilks and others. Early Notables of the Wilkis familyIsrael Wilkes, a 17th century citizen and distiller of London, father of the politician John Wilkes.
Sir Thomas Wilkes (1545?-1598), was an English diplomatist, born about 1545, and is said to have been a native of Sussex. "The Oxford registers do not supply his father's name, and the family occurs in many counties and in many forms, such as Wikes, Wylkes, Weekes, Wyckes, and other variations. A Richard Wilkes (d. 1556) was master of Christ's College, Cambridge, from 1548 to 1553; a Thomas Wilkes represented Chippenham in the Reformation parliament of 1529-1535, and another Thomas Wilkes, haberdasher, of London, was fined 200l...
Another 176 words (13 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wilkis Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Wilkis familyA great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Thomas Wilkes, who came to Virginia in 1653; William Wilkes who arrived in Virginia in 1654; Elizabeth Wilkes, who settled in New England in 1745; and Joseph Wilkes, who came to Maryland in 1776..
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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