The Wilks surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 8,972 people carried this name — #3,962 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 32,900 people counted. That is up 3% from 8,686 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Wilks surname

A surname originating as a patronymic.

From Wilk, a back-formation from Wilkin + the patronymic suffix -s.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Wilks» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of William’.

An early record he cites: Thomas Wylkson, 1379 — Poll Tax, West Riding of Yorkshire.

His entry covers Wilkes and Wilks.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 814 · public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Wilks was found among the farmers of 3 counties.

It was most frequent in Shropshire: 36 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 278. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent. His list gives one count for the spellings Wilkes and Wilks.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Shropshire 36
Worcestershire 18
Warwickshire 15

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

39 families named Wilks, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 205 people lived in those households, 5.3 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 3 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

New York 10
North Carolina 8
South Carolina 7
Maryland 4
Connecticut 3
Virginia 3
Massachusetts 2
Vermont 1
Pennsylvania 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 268 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Wilks in American newspapers,
1908–1912.

Newspaper page from The Baraboo News carrying the name Wilks
The Baraboo News 1908-09-24
Newspaper page from Las Vegas Optic carrying the name Wilks
Las Vegas Optic 1912-05-29
Newspaper page from Courier Democrat carrying the name Wilks
Courier Democrat 1908-04-02

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 104,782 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Wilks in Australian newspapers,
1820s–1990s.

37,519 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Wilks. The most, 12,510, date from the 1900s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in South Australia, at 1.3 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 12,858
Victoria 9,812
South Australia 5,693
Queensland 4,077
Tasmania 2,529
Western Australia 2,399
ACT (Canberra) 75
Northern Territory 6

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Wilks.

Who carried it

People named Wilks,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Robert Wilks
    Robert Wilks 1665–1732 · actor
  • Matthew Wilks
    Matthew Wilks 1746–1829 · parson
  • Matthew Wilks
    Matthew Wilks 1746–1829 · parson
  • Mark Wilks
    Mark Wilks 1748–1819 · Christian minister
  • Mark Wilks
    Mark Wilks 1748–1819 · Christian minister
  • Isobel Maud Wilks d. 1995

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Wilks,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States726 records

726 records of the Wilks name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 247
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 146
  • Other U.S. records 333
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record James A. Wilks

    Born 1916 in Alabama. Enlisted 1942 at Fort McClellan; farmer from De Kalb County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1999, buried at Fuller Cemetery, Ider, Alabama.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Gregary Alan Wilks

    Born 1950; from Ogden, Utah. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1970 in Phuoc Tuy, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Catherine Wilks

    Arrived at New York in 1848 aboard the St. George from Liverpool, aged 22; servant. From Ireland.

    U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain)

Showing 3 of 726 records for Wilks in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia795 records

795 records of the Wilks name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 390
  • Tasmanian Names Index 152
  • Other Australian records 253
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Charlotte Wilks

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Duchess of Northumberland, sailing from Woolwich in 1852. Native of Oxfordshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1858. Married 1858 in Richmond, Tasmania, aged 29.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Henry Wilks

    Died 1851 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 52. Will registered in Tasmania in 1851.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record John Rogers Wilks

    Born 1831 in Hobart, Tasmania. Died 1852 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 21.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 795 records for Wilks in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Canada81 records

81 records of the Wilks name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 36
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 12
  • Other Canadian records 33
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record James Wilks

    Came to Ontario in 1871 aboard the Niger, landing at Quebec, bound for Hamilton, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record John Wilks

    Killed in 1902 at the Marsh Mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Margaret Irene Wilks

    Buried in 1997 at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, aged 102.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.

Showing 3 of 81 records for Wilks in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom30 records

30 records of the Wilks name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 22
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 5
  • Welsh wills index cards 3
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Elias Wilks

    Will proved in 1935; of Swansea.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Anna Wilks

    Buried in 1850 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 27.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record T. E. Wilks

    King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 30 records for Wilks in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Netherlands24 records

24 records of the Wilks name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 16
  • Dutch population registers 5
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 3
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Trijntje Wilks

    Married in 1825 in Jisp. Died 1879 in Jisp, aged 75.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Henry Charles Wilks

    Married in 1945 in Jutphaas.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record John Wilks

    Died 1899 in 's-Gravenhage, aged 52.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 24 records for Wilks in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Germany23 records

23 records of the Wilks name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Michael Wilks

    From Grobischken. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 6 May 1915 (Landwehr Infantry Regiment No. 24).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Wilhelm Wilks

    From Butwethen, Memel. Reported dead in the Prussian casualty list of 20 April 1915 (Infantry Regiment No. 44).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 2 of 23 records for Wilks in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

New Zealand14 records

14 records of the Wilks name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 12
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Emma Wilks

    Died 1938, aged 80; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Basil Bernard Wilks

    Buried in 1972 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 72.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Norman Wilks

    Died 1958, aged 76; buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 14 records for Wilks in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France4 records

4 records of the Wilks name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Simonne Lillias Generaux Wilks

    Born 1909 in Courbevoie (Paris); died 1983 in Nemours (Seine-et-Marne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record France Wilks

    Born 1920 in Montluçon (Allier); died 1976 in Gérardmer (Vosges).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 4 records for Wilks in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Other spellings of this name

The same name, spelled another way.

Spellings that H. B. Guppy (England and Wales, 1890) or the Registrar-General for Ireland (births index of 1890) counted as one name together with Wilks.

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Wilks.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Wilks is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Wilks volume
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