Surname Wilkins - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling the Origins of the Wilkins Surname through iGENEA's DNA Test

The journey into my paternal and maternal lineage, facilitated by iGENEA's DNA test, has broadened my understanding of the Wilkins surname and its potential origin. The intricate combination of Y-DNA and mtDNA has allowed a fascinating dive into the details of my past, tracing back to ancient Celts.

Y. Wilkins

Wilkins: What does the surname Wilkins mean?

The last name Wilkins is derived from the personal name Will or William, which is a masculine given name of Germanic origin, derived from the words 'wil' meaning "will, desire" and 'helm' meaning "helmet, protection". The name literally translates to mean "the desire to protect". This name was popular during the Middle Ages and the surname Wilkins is the result of the adoption of this name by families across Europe during this time.

It is believed that the surname Wilkins originated in England before spreading to Wales, Scotland and Germany. Historically, Wilkins was a patronymic name – a type of surname which is derived from the first name of the father of the initial bearer of the surname – and was used as a means of identification in a society where people had limited options to distinguish themselves. The surname later became adopted as a way to distinguish a particular branch of a family from the others in the same village, as people began to move around more frequently.

Today, the surname Wilkins is most prevalent across English-speaking countries, such as the United States, Canada and Australia. It is also common in Europe, particularly in Germany, where the English version ‘Wilkner’ is more frequent. The variant ‘Wilson’, which is derived from the same root as Wilkins, is more commonly found in Scotland and Ireland.

Wilkins: Where does the name Wilkins come from?

The last name Wilkins has particularly strong English roots, having descended from the Norman French name William. It is most common in England, particularly in the Midlands, where it originated. Wilkins has been found in documents dating as far back as the 12th century, and appears to have been most popular in the 16th and 17th centuries. Wilkins can also be found in some former American colonies, as some of the first known settlers bore the name. It likely derives from the Old English personal name Wilkin, which was an abbreviated form of William.

Although there are still many Wilkins families living in the United Kingdom, the name is beginning to spread further afield. Significant pockets of the Wilkins population can now be found in the United States (particularly in the Midwestern and Southern states), Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Other countries that have significant concentrations of the Wilkins name include Ireland, South Africa, France (where it is believed to have derived from Norman French Rebels) and Iceland. Furthermore, as a result of globalization and increased levels of travel throughout the 20th century, individuals bearing the illustrious Wilkins name have traveled to a wide range of countries throughout the world.

Variations of the surname Wilkins

The surname Wilkins is a patronymic surname, derived from the father's personal name William. Variations of this surname include Willkins, Wilkin, Wylken, Wylkins, Wilkens, Wilkyn, Wilkies, Wickens, Wicken, Wilkesson, Wilkenson, Wilkinsone, Wilkinsoyn, Willkinsone, Wilkys, Willcocks, and Wills.

Different spellings of Wilkins can also vary in any given region or language, since they were most likely derived through translation from the initial surname. Spellings and variants of Wilkins include Willcome, Willicom, Willicomes, Willicombe, Wilkin, Wilke, Wilkeigh, Wilkeman, Wilkes, WilckES, Wilkesman, Wilcoss, Willcox, Wilcoxon, Wilks, Wilkeson, Wylkeson, Wiltshire, and Wilce.

These variations were also altered through migration to other countries and geographical areas. For example, the variants of Wilkins in Germany may be Vilkens, Vilkenson, and Willkens. In the Netherlands, variants may appear as Wilkink and Wilkint.

Surnames with similar origins and meanings to Wilkins include Wilkinson, Wilkerem, Wilkens, Wilrus, Wilks, Wilky, Wilcon, Wileck, and Wilcke.

In addition, it is important to note that some surnames with similar spellings may not have the same origin. Surnames sharing a similar spelling but different origin may include Wilcoxen, Wilcose, Willac 05x, Willcock, Willcough, and Willcoxson.

Famous people with the name Wilkins

• Dean Wilkins: Ex-footballer who used to play for Brighton and Hove Albion.
• D. A. Wilkins: Canadian professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia.
• Gordon Wilkins: Retired British Major General.
• Jackie Wilkins: Former English-born cricketer who played for Essex.
• Les Wilkins: British actor.
• Raymond Wilkins: English footballer who played for Chelsea and England.
• Richard Wilkins: Television presenter in Australia.
• Ron Wilkins: Ex-American footballer who used to play for the New York Jets.
• Sam Wilkins: BMX racer.
• Sonja Wilkins: American volleyball player.
• Steven Wilkins: World-famous architectural historian and author.
• Emma Wilkins: New Zealand Paralympian.
• Emma Wilkins: English actress from the 1970's.
• Kelly Wilkins: British Paralympian swimmer.
• Kira Wilkins: Australian actress.
• Kelsey Wilkins: Actress who starred in Netflix's film Tall Girl.
• Kenny Wilkins: British singer-songwriter.
• Reg Wilkins: American scholar and author.
• Robert Wilkins: Father of modern blues and early gospel music.
• Vic Wilkins: Former professional English footballer.

Other surnames

WilkieWilkinWilkingWilkinson