Surname Zillikens - Meaning and Origin

Zillikens: What does the surname Zillikens mean?

The last name Zillikens is of Dutch origin and is believed to be derived from the Dutch surname “Zillich,” which in turn has its origin in several old German words, including “zilg,” meaning ‘buckthorn’. It is believed that the surname was taken on in reference to the practice of using buckthorn to make fences in Netherlands during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Additionally, the first recorded spelled iteration of the name “Zillikens” is found in the Netherlands, with the earliest Dutch record of use appearing in the 1611 baptismal record of the first born child of Andries Ziliken.

The Zillikens are perhaps most famously associated with the well-known Dutch painters, Jan Adam and Albert Zillikens; each of whom were born and raised in Amsterdam and Plaski, respectively.

The Zillikens have a long-standing history of being a creative, artistic and musically talented family. An example of their artistry is demonstrated in the works of the talented Albert Zillikens, such as the painting, “A View from The Hague,” completed in 1821.

Today, the surname Zillikens is a celebrated one and can be found throughout Europe, particularly in Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. And despite the change in spelling over the years, the Zillikens family name still symbolizes a proud history of resilience and creative expression.

Zillikens: Where does the name Zillikens come from?

The last name Zillikens is most commonly found in the Netherlands where it originated, as well as in Germany, France, and Luxembourg. In the Netherlands, the Zillikens family is concentrated mainly in the Limburg and North Brabant provinces.

In Germany, it is particularly prevalent in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, as well as in the Rhein-Neckar region. There are also Zillikens in France, mostly in the Alsace region and in Luxembourg. In recent years, the surname has spread to other countries, primarily by emigration.

The surname is spread widely across the United States. It is second-most common in California, followed by Florida, Illinois, New York, and Texas. It is also found in Australia, where the most populous concentration is in Victoria.

In South Africa, Zillikens is among the 100 most popular surnames, with most of the population being found in Gauteng, the Western Cape, and the Free State. It is also highly represented in Namibia, where it is the 58th most common name. The last name Zillikens is relatively rare in the United Kingdom, but there are a few people with the surname scattered throughout the country.

All told, the last name Zillikens is highly prevalent in several countries around the world, with a concentration of the biggest populations being found in the United States, Australia, South Africa, and the Netherlands. It is clear that the Zillikens family has managed to spread its influence worldwide and is now found in many places.

Variations of the surname Zillikens

The Zillikens surname has several variants, spellings, and derivatives. It is an originally Dutch name, deriving from the name “Zillekens” which translates roughly to "little protector". Variants of this include:

- Zilliken

- Zillikens

- Zillekens

- Zilekens

- Zileikens

- Zillikenn

- Zilekenn

Surnames of the same origin include:

- Seelikens

- Seilkens

- Seelekens

- Selkens

- Sellekens

- Sellikens

- Sellkens

- Zelikens

- Zellikens

- Zellkens

This surname also has variants by language, for example in German:

- Zilken

- Ziellken

In the United States, surname variants often occur when immigrants try to Anglicize their names. Variations in Zillikens include:

- Zilliken

- Zillikin

- Zilliken

- Zillekin

- Zillekin

- Zilkenn

- Zilkens

- Zilkns

In some cases, the surnames have been Americanized to the point that their roots have become hard to identify. This is true for surnames like “Sillikin” and “Sillican”. It is possible that these variants are related to Zillikens, but further research would be required to confirm any such link.

Famous people with the name Zillikens

• Ryan Zillikens: an American musician, singer-songwriter, engineer, and record producer.
• Erika Zillikens: a German actress and director.
• Michael Zillikens: a German windsurfer, freestyle windsurfer, and kitesurfer.
• Sam Zillikens: an American college baseball coach.
• Domien Zillikens: a Dutch artistic director and choreographer.
• Trever Zillikens: a German figure skater and choreographer.
• Richard Zillikens: a former American soccer goalkeeper.
• Bodo Zillikens: a former German football midfielder.
• Dennis Zillikens: an American baseball coach and the current head coach of the Naval Academy.
• Lucia Zillikens: a German dressage rider.

Other surnames

Zilliken