UK surname
Derived from a short form of Germanic names beginning with "Wil-," meaning "will, desire."
In the 1881 census there were 70 people recorded with the Wilke surname, ranking it #23,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 75, ranked #33,377, down from #23,670 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Stockport and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wilke is 139 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.1%.
1881 census count
70
Ranked #23,670
Modern count
75
2016, ranked #33,377
Peak year
1891
139 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wilke surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wilke surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 35 | #27,037 |
| 1861 | historical | 116 | #18,751 |
| 1881 | historical | 70 | #23,670 |
| 1891 | historical | 139 | #19,311 |
| 1901 | historical | 75 | #25,852 |
| 1911 | historical | 76 | #25,221 |
| 1997 | modern | 55 | #32,114 |
| 1998 | modern | 55 | #32,399 |
| 1999 | modern | 60 | #32,078 |
| 2000 | modern | 61 | #32,039 |
| 2001 | modern | 56 | #32,379 |
| 2002 | modern | 57 | #32,661 |
| 2003 | modern | 52 | #33,160 |
| 2004 | modern | 55 | #33,154 |
| 2005 | modern | 68 | #32,097 |
| 2006 | modern | 77 | #31,510 |
| 2007 | modern | 81 | #31,408 |
| 2008 | modern | 84 | #31,370 |
| 2009 | modern | 77 | #32,553 |
| 2010 | modern | 83 | #32,396 |
| 2011 | modern | 78 | #32,819 |
| 2012 | modern | 75 | #33,263 |
| 2013 | modern | 80 | #33,058 |
| 2014 | modern | 83 | #32,910 |
| 2015 | modern | 79 | #33,127 |
| 2016 | modern | 75 | #33,377 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Stockport, London parishes, St Saviour Southwark and Darlaston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedgley | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 4 | St Saviour Southwark | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Darlaston | Staffordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wilke surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wilke, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Wilke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wilke household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Wilke is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wilke is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wilke, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Wilke is of German origin, derived from the Old German word "willio," meaning "will" or "desire." This name first appeared in the 12th century in various regions of Germany, particularly in the areas around modern-day Bavaria and Saxony.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wilke can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. The name is mentioned in a document from 1256, referring to a landowner named Wilke von Schönburg.
In the 14th century, the name Wilke was also documented in the Altenburg Manuscripts, a compilation of records from the city of Altenburg in modern-day Thuringia, Germany. These manuscripts mention a merchant named Wilke Hausmann, who lived in Altenburg during the late 1300s.
During the Renaissance period, a notable figure with the surname Wilke was Johannes Wilke, a German humanist scholar and philosopher born in 1483 in Nuremberg. He was known for his works on theology and his contributions to the intellectual discourse of the time.
Another prominent individual with this surname was Wilhelm Wilke, a German painter and engraver born in 1603 in Dresden. His works, which included portraits and religious scenes, were highly regarded during the Baroque period and can still be found in various museums and collections across Europe.
In the 19th century, a famous bearer of the Wilke surname was Carl Wilke, a German explorer and naturalist born in 1825. He is renowned for his expeditions to South America, where he documented numerous plant and animal species, contributing significantly to the field of natural history.
Other notable individuals with the surname Wilke include Johann Wilke, a German composer and organist born in 1594, and Friedrich Wilke, a German writer and journalist who lived from 1777 to 1854 and was known for his contributions to the development of German literature and journalism.
While the surname Wilke originated in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, where it was brought by German immigrants. However, the earliest recorded instances and historical references to the name can be traced back to its German roots and the various regions within Germany where it first emerged and was documented.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wilke surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 23 Wilkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.37x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town in Middlesex leads with 13 Wilkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 120.59x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Mile End Old Town | 13 | 120.59x |
| St Marylebone London | 7 | 19.20x |
| Bury | 6 | 64.86x |
| Llandaff | 6 | 151.90x |
| Southwark St Saviour | 5 | 142.45x |
| Barony | 4 | 7.16x |
| Alverstoke | 3 | 59.17x |
| Elton | 2 | 71.43x |
| Glasgow | 2 | 5.10x |
| Lewisham | 2 | 16.10x |
| Lyncombe Widcombe | 2 | 69.44x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 2 | 8.40x |
| Roath | 2 | 37.04x |
| Allerton | 1 | 116.28x |
| Biddenden | 1 | 312.50x |
| Bradford On Avon | 1 | 51.81x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 1 | 7.77x |
| Church Lawton | 1 | 526.32x |
| Cupar | 1 | 56.82x |
| Kirkley | 1 | 142.86x |
| Kirriemuir | 1 | 64.10x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 3.98x |
| Poplar London | 1 | 7.76x |
| South Bersted | 1 | 102.04x |
| South Duffield | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Spitalfields London | 1 | 19.46x |
| Starforth | 1 | 833.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wilke surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wilke surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Wilke households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Boot Maker | 2 |
| Cotton Weaver | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Cab Driver | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Cook Out Of Employ Dom | 1 |
| Cotton Power Loom Overlooker | 1 |
| Farm Serv (Indoor) | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| Footman | 1 |
| General Bookbinder | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| Hairdresser | 1 |
| Inmate Scholar | 1 |
| Mechanic (Iron Turner) | 1 |
| Opticians Runner | 1 |
| Pensioner | 1 |
| School Mistress | 1 |
| Schoolmaster | 1 |
| Serv General | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Steward | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Tailoress Apprentice | 1 |
| Traveller | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 70 people were recorded with the Wilke surname. That placed it at #23,670 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 75 in 2016. That gives Wilke a modern rank of #33,377.
Derived from a short form of Germanic names beginning with "Wil-," meaning "will, desire."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wilke bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.