Wilkes Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Wilkes Name Meaning: A patronymic form of 'Wilk',a back-formation from 'Wilkin'.A pet form of William wil 'will','desire' + helm 'helmet','protection'.

The name was introduced into england at the time of the conquest and became very popular as a name in England,to honour the conqueror himself.

Discover how your Wilkes ancestors earned their living and spread across the country. Find out more about your family history by using the Free Search box.

Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Wilkes Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Wilkes family

Profession Census Frequency
Agricultural Labourer 91
Female Servant 63
Independent 46
Labourer 45
Male Servant 26
Nailor 25
Farmer 22
Miner 16
Apprentice 12
Tailor 11
Carpenter 10
Shoe Maker 10
Lock Smith 9
Nailer 9
Screw Maker 9
Weaver 8
Butcher 8
Brick Layer 8
Gun Lock Filer 8
Servant 7
Dress Maker 7
Stone Mason 7
Coal Miner Miner Miner 6
Nail Maker 6
Screw Forger 6

Wilkes Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Wilkes 100% 35,166
2 Wilks 83% 32,095
3 Walks 67% 1,510
4 Walkes 83% 1,403
5 Wilkis 83% 396
6 Welks 67% 177

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The surname Wilkes is the most popular version of all its varients

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