The many generations and branches of the Wolker family can all place the origins of their surname with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name reveals that an early member worked as a fuller, whose job it was to scour and thicken raw cloth by beating it and trampling it in water. The surname Wolker is derived from the Old English word wealcere, which means fuller. "In the North of England, fullers' earth is called 'walker's clay,' and a fulling-mill a 'walk-mill.' In Scotland, to walk, still means to full cloth." [1]
The surname Wolker was first found in Yorkshire, where they were believed to be descended from a very ancient tribe called the Wealceringas, and the name is considered to be one of the oldest in England. Their early records have been obscured but in the 12th century, they were recorded as landholders in Yorkshire.
"This name is mainly characteristic of the midlands and of the north of England. It is comparatively infrequent in the counties between the Wash and the Thames. It is absent or rare in the southern part of England south of a line joining the mouths of the Thames and the Severn. Its great home in the midlands is in the counties of Derby and Nottinghamshire. In the north it is most frequent in Durham and Yorkshire." [2]
One of the first records of the family was Richard le Walker, rector of the church of St. Elphin, Warrington, Lancashire in 1396. [3]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wolker research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1248, 1260, 1324, 1361, 1725, 1563, 1611, 1677, 1676, 1597, 1673, 1640, 1643, 1661, 1673, 1599, 1658, 1665, 1616, 1699, 1676, 1688, 1704, 1744, 1618 and are included under the topic Early Wolker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Wolker were recorded, including Walker, Walkere and others.
Distinguished members of the family include Sir Edward Walker (1611-1677), Garter King of Arms in 1676; Robert Walker (c. 1597-1673), an English merchant and politician who sat in the House of Commons of England (1640-1643) and (1661-1673), a strong Royalist during the English Civil War; Robert Walker (1599-1658), an English portrait painter, notable for his portraits of the "Lord...
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wolker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Wolker family to IrelandSome of the Wolker family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 135 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Wolker migration to the United States +To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Wolker family emigrate to North America:
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England
Ireland
Scotland
